TikTok is under investigation by the UK’s media regulator Ofcom for failing to adequately check the ages of its users, raising fresh questions about how social media platforms protect children online.
The probe, launched in July 2026, focuses on TikTok’s use of “age inference” technology—a method that estimates a user’s age based on their behaviour on the platform, such as the videos they watch and the accounts they interact with. Ofcom has “serious doubts” about whether this technique is “highly effective” enough to meet the legal requirements set out in the UK’s Online Safety Act (OSA). Katie Davies, Ofcom’s group director for strategy and research, told the BBC’s Today programme that the regulator found “some methods of age checks used by social media are not working well enough.” TikTok, for its part, says it is “confident that we meet our Online Safety Act obligations” and has invested “billions” in online safety since launching in the UK eight years ago.
“Why Ofcom is investigating TikTok over child age checks and what it means for UK users.”
Age verification is not a new issue. Under the OSA’s protection of children codes, which took effect on 25 July 2025, platforms that host adult content—such as pornography—must use robust methods like face scans to ensure visitors are over 18. But social media sites like TikTok, which typically set a minimum age of 13, have relied on “age inference” to identify underage users. Ofcom’s May 2026 review criticised the platform for not being “safe enough” for children, calling for stronger action. The current investigation is part of a broader clampdown on sites that fail to prevent children encountering harmful material, including pornography and other inappropriate content. Ofcom has already issued large fines against dozens of adult sites for non-compliance.
For UK readers, this matters directly. If you are a parent, the investigation highlights how the platforms your children use determine their age—and how easily those systems can be fooled. TikTok’s age inference relies on algorithms that analyse behaviour; a child pretending to be older could slip through. The outcome of this probe could force TikTok and other platforms to adopt more intrusive checks, such as uploading ID or using facial age estimation, which raise privacy concerns. It also comes amid wider government moves: the UK has proposed banning under-16s entirely from some platforms and, according to a July 2026 report, is considering a default midnight-to-6am curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds on social media (though teens could change the settings). A recent government report noted that in Australia—the first country to implement a nationwide teen social media ban—around 70% of underage users still accessed apps due to ineffective age-checking solutions.
Q: What is age inference? Age inference is a technology used by platforms like TikTok to estimate a user’s age based on their online behaviour—such as the videos they watch or the accounts they follow—rather than asking for official ID. Ofcom has questioned whether it can be “highly effective” enough to meet the UK’s legal standards.
Q: Why is Ofcom investigating TikTok? Ofcom launched the investigation in July 2026 after a review in May criticised TikTok for not being “safe enough” for children. The regulator wants to know whether the platform’s age-check methods are adequate to prevent underage users from seeing harmful content, as required by the Online Safety Act.
Q: What happens if TikTok is found in breach? If Ofcom finds TikTok in breach, it can issue fines or require the platform to take specific steps to improve age verification. The regulator has already fined dozens of adult sites for similar non-compliance. TikTok says it will “work with Ofcom to demonstrate” its compliance.
What happens next depends on the investigation’s findings. Ofcom has not set a deadline for its probe, but it will examine whether TikTok’s age inference systems meet the “highly effective” threshold. The case could set a precedent for how other social media platforms verify ages in the UK, potentially leading to stricter rules for all tech companies. Meanwhile, the government is considering broader measures, including a ban for under-16s and a curfew for older teens, which would further reshape how young people use social media.