The U.K. government says TikTok and YouTube are “not safe enough” for children. British media regulator Ofcom found that the social platforms were not properly enforcing minimum age rules with the government. In response, both referred to safety features already placed within their apps, like TikTok banning direct messages for under-16-year-olds and YouTube’s short-form video timer. The report did indicate that Snap, Roblox, and Meta made changes to fight back against grooming risks, like introducing age checks. This news comes as new research shows that excessive social media use is as bad for kids as smoking, and the U.K. government is already considering a teen social media ban. (BBC)
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