Britain's communications regulator Ofcom has launched a formal investigation into TikTok over alleged failures to protect children from harmful content, including posts promoting self-harm, suicide, disordered eating and pornography.
The probe will examine whether TikTok employs highly effective age-verification measures, with non-compliance potentially resulting in fines of up to £18 million or 10% of global revenue. The investigation follows heightened scrutiny of youth social media use, after Australia became the first country to legally enforce a ban on social media for young people in December 2025, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday the EU would explore similar age limits.
TikTok, which says it spent $2 billion on trust and safety last year and maintains over 50 preset safety settings for users under 16, faces mounting regulatory pressure across multiple jurisdictions.