UK watchdog cracks down on TikTok, Reddit over children's privacy concerns

The Information Commissioner’s Office, Britain’s privacy watchdog, began looking into how Reddit, TikTok, and online picture sharing platform Imgur protect children’s privacy on Monday.

Social media businesses utilise sophisticated algorithms to rank information and keep people interested. However, because they magnify similar information, children may be exposed to more hazardous material.

The watchdog is investigating how ByteDance’s short-form video-sharing site TikTok utilises personal information from 13-17-year-olds to recommend material in their feed.

According to reports, social media platforms Reddit and Imgur are under investigation for how they determine the age of its young members.

“If we find there is sufficient evidence that any of these companies have broken the law, we will put this to them and obtain their representations before reaching a final conclusion,” the Information Commissioner’s Office said in a statement.

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TikTok, Reddit and Imgur did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Britain has previously passed legislation that set tougher rules for social media platforms, including a mandate for them to prevent children from accessing harmful and age-inappropriate content by enforcing age limits and age-checking measures.

Social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are required to “tame” their algorithms to filter out or downgrade harmful material to help protect children under proposed British measures published last year.