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Report: TikTok Recommends Porn to 13-Year-Olds
Global Witness found TikTok’s algorithm suggested explicit sexual content to child accounts despite safety features, breaching the UK Online Safety Act introduced in July 2025.
- In late July and early August this year, Global Witness researchers found TikTok recommended pornographic content to fake 13-year-old accounts despite Restricted Mode being enabled.
- Following the enactment of the UK's Children's Codes on July 25, Global Witness says TikTok's algorithms do not comply and actively push minors toward pornographic content.
- TikTok's search suggestions showed sexual terms without input and surfaced them in the 'you may like' section, leading to explicit videos including simulated masturbation and penetrative sex.
- TikTok said it removed flagged content, improved search suggestions and is committed to safe experiences, while Global Witness has called on Ofcom to investigate amid legal concerns raised by Mark Stephens CBE.
- Ofcom found more than a quarter of five to seven-year-olds use TikTok and a third do so unsupervised, exposing children to risks Global Witness researchers said require urgent action by parents and regulators.
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31 Articles
31 Articles
TikTok searches pushed 13-year-olds toward pornographic content, report says
A new report has found that TikTok has directed young users toward sexually explicit content through its suggested search terms, according to an investigation by UK not-for-profit watchdog Global Witness, as tech companies face mounting pressure to crack down on age verification.
·Atlanta, United States
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TikTok pushes porn and sexual content to 13-year-olds’ accounts, disturbing report claims
TikTok’s algorithm not only allows children to access pornography and highly sexualized content – it actively pushes them toward it, according to a report released Friday.
·New York, United States
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TikTok proposes pornographic and sexualized content to minors – despite the protection function that has been activated. This is the result of a sample of a British NGO, which now demands regulatory authorities to intervene.
·Germany
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Center
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
62% Center
L 23%
C 62%
15%
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