More than half of the child safety features tested across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube either failed to work as advertised or were difficult for young users to find and use, according to new research.
Many of the safety tools promoted by major social media platforms as protection measures for children and teenagers may not be as effective as advertised, according to a new study by the Cybersafety Research Center.
Researchers evaluated 86 youth safety features across TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube, examining whether they functioned as described and whether young users could realistically access and use them. Of the features tested, only 35 met both criteria, meaning that fewer than half were found to be fully effective.
The report assessed a range of protections, including content restrictions, messaging safeguards, search controls and prompts designed to encourage safer online behaviour. Features were classified as failures if they were difficult to locate, did not function properly or failed on both counts.
According to the researchers, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube and TikTok all fell short in various areas, despite years of public commitments to improving youth safety online. The highest failure rates were recorded on Snapchat and Instagram, followed by YouTube and TikTok.
Safety measures bypassed
To conduct the study, researchers created test accounts registered as minors and adult users and examined how the platforms responded to potentially harmful situations.
One area of concern involved content related to self-harm, eating disorders and other sensitive topics. Researchers found that certain search restrictions could be bypassed through alternative spellings or suggested search terms, potentially exposing young users to material the platforms claim to limit.
The report also raised concerns about messaging protections. Researchers found circumstances in which adult users were able to contact or interact with child accounts despite safeguards intended to limit such communication.
Instagram's policies, for example, already restrict adults from initiating private messages with teenagers who do not follow them. The company has previously highlighted these measures as part of broader efforts to improve safety for younger users.
Researchers argued, however, that some protections could still be circumvented under specific circumstances, while Meta maintained that the safeguards were working as intended.
Platforms dispute conclusions
The companies involved largely rejected the findings, arguing that many of the tests did not reflect how young people typically use their services.
Meta said the study misunderstood certain features and maintained that its Teen Accounts system reduces exposure to sensitive content and unwanted contact. YouTube similarly defended its safety tools, pointing to parental controls and supervised account options designed to create a safer environment for younger users.
TikTok said its teen accounts include dozens of safety settings that are automatically enabled, while Snapchat said it continuously evaluates and strengthens its protections in consultation with experts.
Several companies also argued that some features identified as "missing" may simply not have been triggered during the researchers' testing.
Some safeguards proved effective
Despite the shortcomings identified, the study also highlighted a number of successful protections.
Researchers found that TikTok automatically routes users under the age of 13 into a more restricted experience with limited functionality, including the removal of messaging and search features.
Instagram was also praised for automatically placing minor accounts into private mode by default, reducing the likelihood that younger users will unknowingly expose their content to wider audiences.
The researchers concluded that these examples demonstrate that effective child safety features can be designed and implemented when platforms choose to prioritise them.
The findings come amid renewed debate over online safety regulation and growing scrutiny of how social media companies protect younger users. Researchers argue that platforms should focus less on managing harmful experiences after they occur and more on reducing overall risks for children and teenagers before they arise.
Sources: CNN
