UK regulator Ofcom has labeled popular social media giants TikTok and YouTube unsafe for children, despite both companies implementing safety features. The report highlights that these platforms failed to commit significant changes to reduce harmful content, raising concerns about their enforcement of age rules.

The criticism comes as the UK government consults on banning social media for under-16s, with Ofcom warning it will take tough action if necessary. Meanwhile, other companies like Snap and Roblox have made strides in reducing grooming risks, but these changes are seen as insufficient by some experts.

Despite efforts to protect young users, concerns remain that behavioural data could be used more effectively to detect underage activity. Critics argue this is a product problem rather than one of speed or enforcement, highlighting the long-standing culture at tech giants of prioritizing commercial interests over safety.

The report also suggests that platforms need to do more to keep children off their sites, with 84% of eight-to-12-year-olds still using apps designed for older users. Some see this as a call for stricter legislation and conditional bans on personalisation algorithms that push harmful content to teens.

As the government weighs options including outright bans, Ofcom's next steps will be crucial in determining whether tech giants can truly protect their youngest users or if more drastic measures are needed.