Meta, Snap and Roblox commit to tougher anti-grooming measures in UK
Source: Engadget
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Background
UK regulator Ofcom released a study indicating that major social networks are not doing enough to protect children online. The regulator emailed Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube in March after a late‑last‑year study highlighted shortcomings in child safety measures.
One of Ofcom’s demands, made under the Online Safety Act, is for platforms to implement protections against online grooming.
Platform commitments
Snap
- Will roll out default settings that prevent adults from contacting children they don’t know.
- Will stop encouraging young users to “expand their friendship groups to strangers.”
- Plans to release a “highly effective age assurance” system for all UK users this summer, identifying anyone under 18 and applying anti‑grooming measures to their accounts.
Meta (Instagram & Facebook)
- Will develop a new setting that hides teenagers’ following and follower lists on Instagram by default.
- Will roll out AI tools to detect sexualised conversations between adults and teens in Instagram DMs and report offending accounts to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
- Will expand the “13+ movie‑style” sensitive‑content control from Instagram to Facebook, limiting teens to age‑appropriate posts.
Roblox
- Committed to age‑assurance measures that ensure only age‑appropriate games are suggested.
- Will give parents of users under 16 the ability to switch off chat entirely.
- Previously introduced an age‑verification system that required users to verify their age with a selfie, though implementation issues allowed some children to bypass it.
TikTok and YouTube response
Ofcom noted that TikTok and YouTube have not committed to any significant changes. Both platforms argue that their feeds are already safe for kids. YouTube told the BBC that it works with child‑safety experts to provide “industry‑leading, age‑appropriate” experiences for children.
Regulator’s statement
“Our research published today shows that nine in ten children aged 8‑12 are using online services with a minimum age requirement of 13+, so firms’ responses to our demand to enforce these requirements more effectively are concerning.”
Ofcom will share its findings and concerns with the UK government, especially regarding feedback on a potential social‑media ban for children under 16. The UK is considering a minimum‑age ban similar to Australia’s, which took effect in December 2025.