London: British regulators have asked major social media companies to take stronger action to stop children from accessing their platforms. Authorities say companies such as Meta Platforms, TikTok, Snap Inc. and YouTube must improve safety measures and better enforce age limits.
The warning was issued by the UK communications regulator Ofcom and the Information Commissioner's Office, which oversees data protection. The regulators said many platforms still allow children to join easily even though their rules require users to be at least 13 years old.
Officials said protecting children online must become a priority. They warned that some platforms are not doing enough to prevent young users from seeing harmful or addictive content.
Under Britain’s new online safety rules, social media companies have been asked to explain by April 30 how they plan to strengthen protection for minors. Regulators expect companies to introduce stronger age verification systems and design safer online spaces for young users.
The watchdogs also want companies to limit contact between children and strangers online and make their recommendation systems safer for younger audiences. Another concern raised by regulators is that companies should avoid testing new features on children without proper safeguards.
Authorities warned that companies could face heavy penalties if they fail to comply with the rules. Ofcom has the power to impose fines of up to ten percent of a company’s global revenue, while the Information Commissioner’s Office can issue fines of up to four percent of worldwide annual turnover for violations.
The pressure on social media platforms comes as governments around the world are increasing efforts to protect children online. Several countries are now discussing stricter age checks and stronger rules to limit children’s access to social media platforms.