Ofcom Flags Child Safety Gaps On YouTube, India Urged To Strengthen Protections

On May 21, 2026, Ofcom released findings showing that 73 percent of UK children aged 11–17 were exposed to harmful content within four weeks, mainly through personalised feeds on YouTube and TikTok. While rival platforms like Meta, Snap, and Roblox have agreed to tougher protections, Google and TikTok insist their current measures are sufficient. 

The UK Debate

• Exposure Rates: 67 percent of children in Britain use YouTube, 60 percent use TikTok.
• Age Violations: 84 percent of children aged 8–12 are on platforms requiring users to be at least 13.
• Platform Responses: YouTube claims to provide “age-appropriate, high-quality experiences,” while TikTok says Ofcom overlooked its safety features.
• Regulatory Push: Ofcom is urging stricter laws, noting current rules do not force companies to keep underage users off platforms. 

Why India Should Pay Attention

• India has one of the largest child user bases for YouTube, Instagram, and other video apps, often without robust age verification. Risks include:
• Exposure to harmful content through recommendation algorithms.
• Predatory behaviour from strangers contacting minors.
• Addictive design features like endless scrolling and autoplay.

Australia has already banned social media for children under 16, while the EU is introducing stricter age verification and controls. India currently lacks comparable legislation, relying mainly on IT Rules, 2021, which do not specifically address child safety in algorithm-driven feeds. 

Policy Options For India

• Age Verification: Introduce mandatory verification tools similar to EU’s proposed app.
• Algorithm Controls: Restrict autoplay and personalised feeds for minors.
• Parental Tools: Expand parental control features across platforms.
• Legal Accountability: Enforce penalties for platforms failing to protect children.

Child Safety Insights

•⁠  ⁠Ofcom criticises YouTube and TikTok for weak child safety measures

•⁠  ⁠73 percent of UK children exposed to harmful content in four weeks

•⁠  ⁠84 percent of children aged 8–12 use platforms requiring age 13+

•⁠  ⁠Meta, Snap, Roblox commit to stronger protections, Google and TikTok resist

•⁠  ⁠India faces similar risks with millions of child users on video apps

•⁠  ⁠Australia bans social media for under-16s, EU introduces age verification tools

Sources: Times Now, Silicon UK, Reuters, Ofcom Reports