Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office has launched an investigation into how TikTok, Reddit, and online image-sharing platform Imgur protect children’s privacy.
The probe will examine how TikTok, owned by Chinese company ByteDance, uses the personal information of 13 to 17-year-olds to suggest content in their feeds. Additionally, Reddit and Imgur are being scrutinized for their methods of assessing the age of child users.
Social media platforms employ complex algorithms to prioritize content and keep users engaged. However, concerns have grown over the potential for these algorithms to amplify similar content, exposing children to increasing amounts of harmful material.
“If we find sufficient evidence that any of these companies have broken the law, we will present our findings and obtain their responses before reaching a final conclusion,” the ICO stated.
This investigation follows a 2023 ruling in which the ICO fined TikTok £12.7 million ($16 million) for breaching data protection laws by using the personal data of children under 13 without parental consent.
A Reddit spokesperson told Reuters that the platform is cooperating with the ICO and aims to comply with all relevant regulations. “Most of our users are adults, but we plan to introduce changes this year to address updated UK regulations on age assurance,” the spokesperson said.
The investigation comes as Britain enforces stricter rules for social media platforms, requiring them to prevent children from accessing harmful or age-inappropriate content by implementing robust age limits and verification measures.
Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have also been urged to adjust their algorithms to filter or downgrade harmful material to better protect young users.
