Social Media Continues to Expose Teenagers to Disturbing Posts
A recent BBC investigation has found that teenagers are still encountering social media content about bullying, suicide, and weapons, even after new legal safeguards were introduced under the UK Online Safety Act in July. The law makes platforms legally responsible for protecting children and young people online.
The experiment, repeated from a spring trial using six fictional teen profiles aged 13 to 15, revealed:
- TikTok continued to serve disturbing posts to 15-year-old girls, including content about bullying, suicide, terminal illness, and violent abuse.
- YouTube displayed videos reviewing knives, guns, and crossbows to a 15-year-old boy, including footage of animals being shot.
-
Instagram showed significant improvement, with its Teen Accounts now guided by PG-13 ratings, displaying no harmful content during the trial.
Experts warn that while platforms like TikTok and YouTube claim to have safety protections, including content filters and screen time limits, parents and caregivers still need to actively monitor and discuss online activity.
NSPCC’s Emma Motherwell stressed the importance of “safety by design” and fostering open, non-judgmental conversations with children.
Online safety expert David Wright CBE added that while improvements are being seen, the Online Safety Act is not an instant fix, and vigilance from families, educators, and regulators remains crucial. Ofcom will continue to investigate and enforce compliance.
This story underscores a child’s right to protection from harmful online content, as recognized under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Children are entitled to access digital media safely, free from exposure to material that threatens their physical, mental, or emotional well-being.
