TikTok is facing intense scrutiny from the media regulator Ofcom over its systems for verifying user ages. The probe comes after the UK government banned under-16s from certain platforms, sparking concerns about TikTok's age verification methods.

Ofcom will examine how TikTok assesses if a user is underage and whether it has robust systems to prevent children from accessing harmful content. A spokesperson for TikTok stated that they are confident their measures comply with the Online Safety Act but will cooperate fully with Ofcom’s investigation.

The heart of the regulator's inquiry centres on 'age inference,' which involves estimating a user's age based on how they interact with the platform. Critics argue that such tools may not be effective enough, while TikTok defends its use of advanced technologies to enforce age-appropriate experiences.

This investigation is part of broader efforts to ensure social media platforms protect children from harmful content. The Online Safety Act mandates methods like face scans for users accessing adult content in the UK, and Ofcom has already taken action against numerous non-compliant websites.

With concerns over child exposure to potentially dangerous content remaining high, the outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for how TikTok and other platforms manage user ages online.