UK presses TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat to tighten child age checks

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published March 16, 2026

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British regulators have stepped up pressure on major digital platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, demanding stronger action to stop children from accessing services or spaces that are not appropriate for their age. The move comes from Ofcom and the Information Commissioner’s Office as part of a wider push to strengthen child safety online.

The regulators said the platforms must show by April 30 how they will enforce their minimum-age rules more effectively, with a focus on stronger age checks, reducing adult-child interactions, and ending product testing on minors. The ICO also called for advanced age-assurance tools to prevent under-13s from accessing services meant for older users.

The move matters directly to families and everyday users because it could reshape the social media experience in the coming months, including tighter sign-up controls, more restrictions on certain features, and clearer limits on children’s access to some kinds of content. This is an editorial inference based on the measures outlined by UK regulators.

The watchdogs also warned of steep financial penalties for non-compliance. Reuters reported that Ofcom can impose fines of up to 10% of global revenue, while the ICO can fine companies up to 4%. Some firms pointed to existing child-safety tools, while others declined to comment directly.