TikTok is currently under formal investigation by Ofcom, the UK's online regulator, due to concerns that the platform is failing to adequately protect children from harmful material. A primary focus of the inquiry is TikTok's age verification processes, which Ofcom suspects may not be effectively identifying a significant number of underage users, potentially exposing them to content related to self-harm, disordered eating, suicide, and pornography.
This investigation takes place nearly a year after critical child protection measures outlined in the Online Safety Act came into force. Ofcom has stated that while no conclusions have been reached, any confirmed compliance failures could result in substantial penalties. These include fines up to £18 million or 10% of TikTok's qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever sum is greater. In severe cases, the regulator also holds the power to request that sites be blocked or restricted within the UK.
TikTok maintains that it requires users to provide a date of birth upon account creation and employs technology that analyses various 'signals' to detect indicators of users not meeting its minimum age requirement. The company has stated its confidence in meeting its Online Safety Act obligations and has pledged to cooperate with Ofcom to demonstrate this compliance. The platform also asserts that it prohibits content promoting disordered eating or risky weight management behaviours.
The scrutiny on TikTok's age verification methods is intensified by the UK government's upcoming plans to introduce a social media ban for under-16s, expected to be implemented early next year. This policy will further increase the pressure on technology companies to ensure robust age verification systems. Ofcom has expressed 'serious doubts' about other platforms that rely on age inference techniques, urging them to adopt more effective methods detailed in its guidance without delay.
Beyond social media, Ofcom has also issued a warning regarding the ease with which children can access pornography sites lacking age verification through search engines. The regulator's findings indicate that a substantial proportion of initial search results on Google Search and Microsoft-owned Bing directed users to such sites. Since 25 July 2025, all UK sites and apps featuring pornography have been legally required under the Online Safety Act to implement age checks. Ofcom confirmed that both Google and Microsoft are now collaborating with the regulator to address the discoverability of non-compliant pornography sites.