The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has announced investigations into social media platforms TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur over their handling of children’s personal information. The inquiries aim to determine whether these companies are complying with UK data protection laws regarding the collection, use, and processing of children’s data.
The ICO’s investigation into TikTok will assess how the platform uses the personal data of 13–17-year-olds in the UK to generate content recommendations. Concerns have been raised about whether recommender systems on social media platforms expose young users to inappropriate or harmful content based on their online activity.
Parallel investigations into Reddit and Imgur will focus on their approaches to age assurance measures and how they assess the ages of child users in the UK. Age verification is a crucial component of online child safety, helping platforms tailor services to minors while restricting access to inappropriate content. The ICO seeks to determine whether these platforms have adequate safeguards in place.
Information Commissioner John Edwards emphasized that while the UK values technological innovation, companies must prioritize children’s privacy. “If social media and video sharing platforms want to benefit from operating in the UK, they must comply with data protection law,” Edwards said. “The responsibility to keep children safe online lies firmly at the door of the companies offering these services.”
The investigations are part of the ICO’s broader efforts to ensure that digital services prioritize child safety. Since the introduction of the Children’s Code in 2021, the ICO has pushed for significant reforms. Companies such as X (formerly Twitter), BeReal, and Sendit have already modified their privacy settings in response to regulatory pressure, including restrictions on geolocation tracking and behavioral advertising targeting minors.
If the ICO finds violations of data protection laws, the implicated companies will have an opportunity to respond before any enforcement action is taken. The ICO has pledged to continue working alongside Ofcom to ensure social media platforms align with the UK’s Online Safety Act and the Children’s Code.
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