In a sharply worded report, Ofcom said the recommendation systems powering the apps’ endless video feeds still expose young users to material that is “not safe enough,” despite growing pressure on tech companies to strengthen online protections.

The criticism marks a noticeable shift in the debate around social media harm. Regulators are no longer asking only whether dangerous content gets removed quickly enough, they are now questioning why children are being shown that content in the first place.

That change matters. For years, platforms defended themselves by pointing to moderation tools and reporting systems. But regulators increasingly believe the deeper issue lies inside the algorithms themselves the invisible systems deciding what appears on a child’s screen every few seconds.

Ofcom’s report acknowledged that companies such as Meta, Snap, and Roblox had agreed to strengthen anti-grooming protections. Proposed measures include tougher age checks, restrictions on direct messaging, and stronger parental controls. TikTok and YouTube, however, were singled out for resisting major changes to their recommendation feeds.

Both companies pushed back strongly. TikTok said the regulator had ignored important safety tools already built into the platform, including limits on direct messaging for users under 16. YouTube defended its child-safety features and said it works closely with experts to provide age-appropriate experiences.

Still, the numbers continue to alarm policymakers. According to Ofcom’s own survey, 84 percent of children aged between eight and 12 are using at least one major social media service despite most platforms officially requiring users to be at least 13 years old.

What this really reveals is a growing credibility gap between platform policies and platform reality. The report arrives at a politically sensitive moment, with the UK government weighing tougher laws that could include social media bans for under-16s, mandatory age limits, or even app curfews for minors.

Critics argue tech firms have spent too long treating child safety as a public relations issue instead of a design issue. And that distinction is becoming harder to ignore.

As governments across the world tighten digital regulations, the battle over children’s online safety is shifting from parental concern to full-scale political pressure with Silicon Valley now facing a question it can no longer easily sidestep, If platforms are built to maximize attention, can they truly be made safe for children at the same time?