⚠️ WARNING: TikTok Search Algorithms Found to Push 13-Year-Olds Toward Pornographic Content, Watchdog Report Reveals

THE MORSE CODE

By Ana Nicolaci da Costa | October 3, 2025

A damning new report by UK-based watchdog Global Witness has revealed that TikTok’s search algorithm may be actively directing underage users toward sexually explicit content—even when those users are registered as just 13 years old and using the app’s “restricted mode.”

The investigation, published on October 3, involved the creation of seven TikTok accounts in the UK, each posing as a 13-year-old. These accounts were set up on factory-reset phones with no prior search history. Despite these precautions, Global Witness found that TikTok’s search suggestions quickly became “highly sexualized,” even under the platform’s own safety settings designed to limit exposure to inappropriate material.

In some cases, sexually explicit search terms were suggested the very first time a user tapped the search bar. All seven test accounts were exposed to pornographic content within just a few clicks of setting up their profiles.

“Our point isn’t just that TikTok shows pornographic content to minors,” the report stated. “It is that TikTok’s search algorithms actively push minors towards pornographic content.”

The findings arrive amid growing scrutiny of tech companies in both the UK and the U.S., where lawmakers are pushing for stricter online child safety regulations. TikTok is already facing lawsuits alleging its platform harms young users’ mental health.

In response to the report, a TikTok spokesperson said the company is “committed to keeping their users’ experience safe,” and that it had taken “immediate action” to investigate the claims, remove violating content, and improve its search suggestion feature. The company also highlighted its suite of over 50 safety features for teens and claimed that 90% of violative videos are removed before being viewed.

Despite these assurances, the report raises serious concerns about TikTok’s compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act 2023, which mandates stricter age verification and content moderation to protect minors. Media lawyer Mark Stephens, cited in the report, said the findings “represent a clear breach” of the new legislation.

TikTok, which has been regulated by UK communications watchdog Ofcom since 2020, stated it is working to comply with the new rules and has implemented additional safeguards, including AI-based age detection and moderation training to identify underage users.

The revelations place TikTok alongside other tech giants like YouTube and Instagram, which have also faced pressure to enhance protections for young users. While platforms have introduced features like AI-driven age estimation and private-by-default teen accounts, critics argue that more robust enforcement and transparency are needed.

As the debate over online child safety intensifies, the Global Witness report serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability in the digital age.

SOURCE CREDIT: https://www.cnn.com/