The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a series of investigations into the handling of children’s personal information on social media and video-sharing platforms. The move targets three major platforms—TikTok, Reddit, and Imgur—raising concerns about data privacy, age verification, and exposure to inappropriate content for young users.
Among the platforms under investigation, TikTok is facing particular scrutiny regarding how it collects and processes the personal data of users aged 13–17. The ICO is assessing how the platform’s recommendation algorithms use this information to serve content to young audiences. With increasing concerns about the influence of social media on children, regulators are questioning whether TikTok’s practices expose minors to potentially harmful or inappropriate material.
The ICO is also looking into how Reddit and Imgur verify the age of their child users in the UK. Age assurance is a critical measure in ensuring that underage users are not exposed to unsuitable content or privacy risks. The investigation will evaluate whether these platforms have effective mechanisms to prevent children from accessing spaces designed for adults and whether they adequately protect young users’ personal information.
A key objective of the investigation is to determine whether these platforms are in breach of UK data protection laws. The ICO has stated that if sufficient evidence of non-compliance is found, the companies will be required to respond before any regulatory action is taken.
John Edwards, the UK Information Commissioner, emphasized the importance of accountability among social media companies. “While we welcome innovation in the digital space, it cannot come at the expense of children’s privacy,” he stated. “If platforms want to operate in the UK, they must comply with data protection laws and take responsibility for keeping children safe online.”
This investigation is part of a broader effort by the ICO to enforce stronger child data protection policies. Since the Children’s Code came into effect in 2021, the ICO has successfully pushed for significant changes in how social media platforms handle children’s data.
Several platforms have already implemented new measures:
- X: Stopped serving ads to users under 18 and removed geolocation sharing for minors.
- Sendit & BeReal: Restricted geolocation features to prevent young users from sharing their exact locations.
- Dailymotion: Strengthened privacy settings and transparency to discourage children from sharing personal data.
- Viber: Disabled personalized advertising for child users to limit behavioral tracking.
These regulatory interventions demonstrate the ICO’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding children in digital spaces. To reinforce online child safety, the ICO is working closely with Ofcom, the UK’s regulator for communication services, which enforces the Online Safety Act. This collaboration aims to create a more comprehensive framework for holding platforms accountable and ensuring compliance with the law.
The ICO has pledged to continue monitoring and pushing for further changes where necessary. If the investigation finds that TikTok, Reddit, or Imgur have violated children’s data rights, the companies could face regulatory penalties or be required to implement stricter compliance measures.
You can bet that entities like Rumble Inc. (NASDAQ: RUM) will be watching events in the UK and picking lessons to implement so that they don’t run afoul of privacy or child protection laws in the different jurisdictions where they have operations.
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