Social Media in Britain: According to Ofcom, despite receiving warnings for a long time, both the companies did not implement any major and effective changes.

(Google questions about social media in the UK)

Social Media in Britain: Britain's media regulator, Ofcom, recently strongly criticized TikTok and Google-owned YouTube. The regulator alleges that these platforms have not taken adequate steps to protect children from dangerous and harmful online content. Particular concern has been raised about algorithms that constantly expose children to content that could negatively impact their mental well-being and behavior.

According to Ofcom, despite long-standing warnings, both companies have failed to implement significant and effective changes. Children continue to be exposed to violent, misinformed, or mentally harmful content, and the platforms' recommendation systems are further amplifying this.

What did YouTube and TikTok say?

Following the criticism, YouTube defended itself, saying it is a leading platform for providing a safe and age-appropriate experience for children. The company said it is working with child safety experts to better protect families.

TikTok also expressed displeasure with Ofcom's comments. The company said the regulator ignored its old and new safety features, while the platform is constantly working to protect children.

Other companies have already taken strict measures.

The matter is further exacerbated by the fact that several major tech companies have already agreed to adopt new rules regarding the safety of children in the UK. Meta is now adding additional security controls for teenage users' accounts and using AI tools to detect suspicious chats.

Snapchat owner Snap has decided that by default, no adult strangers will be able to directly contact children. Gaming platform Roblox has also announced that parents will be able to disable direct messaging for users under 16.

Shocking figures emerge

Ofcom's report also revealed some very worrying statistics. Approximately 67 percent of children in the UK use YouTube, while nearly 60 percent are active on TikTok. The most significant revelation was that approximately 84 percent of children aged 8 to 12 are using social media platforms where the official minimum age is 13.

Regulators believe that current laws are not strong enough to compel companies to keep underage users off their platforms, leading to calls for stricter laws.

India should not take this warning lightly.

The situation in India is no different. Millions of children are active daily on Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat, and other social media platforms. These platforms also harbor individuals who target, stalk, or attempt to psychologically manipulate children.

Many countries around the world are now taking this threat seriously. Australia has taken a major step, banning social media for children under 16. The European Union has launched an age-verification app to enhance children's online safety. Discussions on stricter social media regulations for children are also growing in India, but no major decisions have yet been made.

Millions of children are using social media without age verification.

A large number of children in India use YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and other short video platforms daily. The problem is that most apps lack proper age verification. Children can easily create accounts by entering false age information, and then access content that is unsafe for them.

Experts believe that if strong regulations and technical security measures are not implemented in time, the online safety of children could become a big challenge for India in the coming years.