The UK’s online safety regulator has opened a formal investigation into TikTok over concerns about how the platform protects children from harmful content. The review will examine whether the company is meeting its legal duties under the Online Safety Act, especially when it comes to verifying the ages of young users.
The investigation comes nearly a year after stronger online safety rules took effect in the UK. The law requires digital platforms to take effective steps to keep children away from harmful material. Regulators want to know if TikTok’s current age-checking system is strong enough to identify underage users.
Ofcom said it has concerns that TikTok relies on age estimation methods that may not correctly identify many children. If younger users are not detected, they could gain access to content that is not suitable for their age.
The regulator stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages. No final decision has been made about whether TikTok has broken the law. However, if violations are confirmed, the company could face large financial penalties. Under the Online Safety Act, fines can reach up to £18 million or 10% of a company’s qualifying global revenue, whichever is higher.
The review will focus on whether TikTok uses highly effective methods to determine if a user is a child. Regulators believe accurate age verification is a key part of protecting young people online.
TikTok said users must enter their date of birth when creating an account. The company also said it uses technology that looks for different signals to estimate a user’s age and detect accounts that may belong to children below the minimum age requirement.
The company said it is confident that its systems comply with UK online safety rules. TikTok added that it will continue working with Ofcom during the investigation and provide information about its safety measures.
TikTok also said it does not allow content that promotes eating disorders or dangerous weight management behavior. The platform said it removes material that breaks its community guidelines and continues to improve its safety tools.
The investigation comes as the UK government prepares additional measures aimed at protecting children online. Plans are moving forward for restrictions that could limit social media access for users under the age of 16. The proposal is expected to place even greater attention on how technology companies verify users’ ages.
Ofcom also raised concerns about other online platforms that use age estimation instead of direct verification. Some services estimate a person’s age based on profile details, usernames, facial features, voice, or browsing activity. The regulator believes these methods may not accurately identify all child users.
The watchdog encouraged companies to adopt stronger age assurance methods without delay. It said platforms should use solutions that have been shown to provide more reliable results when protecting children.
Research by Ofcom found that some teenagers between the ages of 15 and 17 continued using popular dating apps despite age restrictions already being in place. The findings suggest that existing verification systems may not always prevent underage access.
TikTok remains one of the most popular social media platforms among children in the UK. Studies show it ranks behind YouTube and WhatsApp among users aged eight to 14. Young users also spend many hours each week watching videos across major video-sharing platforms.
The regulator is also examining how children can still reach adult websites through search engines. According to Ofcom, some search results continue to direct users to pornography websites that do not have proper age checks, despite legal requirements introduced under the Online Safety Act.
Technology companies are now facing increasing pressure to strengthen online protections for children. Regulators, governments, and families continue to call for better safeguards as young people spend more time on digital platforms.
The outcome of the TikTok investigation could influence how online platforms verify users’ ages in the future. It may also shape future enforcement of UK online safety laws as regulators continue efforts to create a safer digital environment for children.
