UK Regulators Tighten Scrutiny of TikTok and Teen Social Media Use

Ofcom opens a child-safety probe as the government floats an overnight curfew for older teenagers

Britain's communications regulator has launched a formal investigation into TikTok over child safety concerns, the latest step in an intensifying government effort to curb the risks social media poses to young users.

Ofcom's probe follows a review in May that found the platform was not "safe enough" for children, according to the BBC. The investigation will examine whether TikTok is meeting its obligations to protect younger users from harmful content on the app.

The move comes as the UK government separately proposes a voluntary overnight social media curfew for older teenagers, according to Al Jazeera. The measure would encourage platforms to restrict access during nighttime hours and follows an under-16 social media ban the government announced last month.

Taken together, the actions reflect mounting political pressure in Britain to rein in how children and teenagers use social media platforms, amid growing evidence linking heavy use to mental health and safety concerns among young users. Regulators and ministers have increasingly turned to both enforcement action against platforms and new restrictions on access as they try to address the issue.

It remains unclear how TikTok will respond to the Ofcom investigation or whether platforms will adopt the proposed curfew voluntarily, as the government has framed it, rather than facing mandatory rules.

— Compiled from reporting by the BBC and Al Jazeera.