UK communications regulator Ofcom announced a formal investigation into TikTok on July 16 to determine if the social media app meets its obligations under the Online Safety Act to protect children from harmful content [1, 2, 3]. The probe focuses on TikTok’s age verification methods, including the use of age inference technology that estimates users’ ages based on behavioral signals, which Ofcom suspects may fail to identify a significant number of underage users [1, 2, 3, 4].

Ofcom’s Age Assurance Report highlighted that age inference models on TikTok and other platforms may not effectively block children from viewing harmful material such as content related to self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, and pornography [1, 3, 4]. The regulator expressed serious doubts about relying on age inference and called for switching to other highly effective age-checking methods in its guidance [1].

Under the Online Safety Act, companies found in breach of their duties can face fines up to £18 million or 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue, whichever is higher [1, 2, 3]. Ofcom emphasized that opening the investigation does not imply any conclusion of wrongdoing by TikTok [1, 3, 4].

TikTok requires users to enter their date of birth and uses advanced technology analyzing various signals to infer if users meet the minimum age, stating these measures align with legal obligations and industry standards [1, 2]. In response, a TikTok spokesperson said, "We strictly enforce age-appropriate experiences through expert-informed platform rules and advanced age inference technologies, in line with major industry peers" [2]. However, Kate Davies, Ofcom’s director for strategy and research, said age inference is "not in our guidance as an effective method of age check" [2].

Ofcom research also found that about 10% of teenagers aged 15-17 still accessed dating apps despite age checks, pointing to flaws in current systems [1]. Alongside the TikTok inquiry, Ofcom warned that children can easily access pornography sites via search engines without adequate age verification and said Google and Bing will work with the regulator on solutions [2].

The UK government plans to introduce a social media ban for users under 16 early next year, increasing pressure on platforms to tighten age verification processes [1]. Ofcom intends to collect and analyze evidence related to TikTok’s compliance over a period of at least three months and expects to provide further updates on the investigation around October 2026 [3, 4].