- ICO scrutinizing TikTok/Reddit/Imgur for under-18 data usage in recommendation engines
- 2023: TikTok fined £12.7M for failing to remove 1.4M underage UK accounts
- New focus on addictive designrisks and age verification loopholes
Britain's Information Commissioner’s Office has launched a sweeping examination of how social platforms leverage teenage behavioral data. The investigation follows mounting evidence that recommendation algorithms may amplify harmful content despite existing age gates. Information Commissioner John Edwards emphasized the dual nature of these systems: While personalized feeds can foster creativity, we must ensure they don’t become traps exposing youths to psychological harm.
Three critical vulnerabilities under review include:
- Persistent tracking of minor accounts after initial age declaration
- Algorithmic prioritization of viral challenges over safety protocols
- Cross-platform data sharing enabling targeted content clusters
Industry analysts note this probe aligns with broader EU Digital Services Act reforms. A 2024 Deloitte study revealed 68% of European teens encounter inappropriate content weekly through platform recommendations – a 22% increase since 2021. Germany’s Jugendmedienschutz initiative recently mandated real-time content filtering for under-16 accounts, creating a potential blueprint for UK regulators.
TikTok’s spokesperson countered: Our For You feed employs 30+ safety classifiers and limits minor accounts to age-appropriate content pools.However, Warwick University researchers found these filters fail to block 19% of borderline material related to eating disorders and self-harm. The platform’s 2023 transparency report acknowledged removing 153M underage accounts globally – 23% more than 2022 figures.
Emerging biometric age-check technologies could reshape compliance standards. Yoti’s facial analysis system, currently trialed by Instagram, claims 99.9% accuracy in detecting under-13 users. Yet privacy advocates warn against normalizing facial scans for minor accounts. As Edwards concluded: This isn’t about stifling innovation – it’s about ensuring digital playgrounds don’t become psychological minefields.