Report Finds TikTok Algorithm Suggests Sexual Content to Child Accounts

A recent investigation by the human rights campaign group Global Witness found that TikTok’s algorithm is recommending sexually explicit content to accounts registered as children. Researchers created four fake accounts pretending to be 13-year-olds, enabling all safety settings, including ‘restricted mode’, which is designed to block mature content. Despite these precautions, the app suggested highly sexualised search terms, leading to videos featuring explicit sexual acts, simulated masturbation, and public exposure of underwear and breasts. The content was sometimes embedded within seemingly innocent videos to bypass moderation. Global Witness first discovered the issue during unrelated research in April and reported it to TikTok, which said it took immediate action. However, when the experiment was repeated in late July and early August, the problem persisted. TikTok stated it has over 50 safety features and removes 90% of violating content before it is viewed, and that improvements to its search suggestion system were launched after being informed of these findings. The investigation also comes after the UK’s Online Safety Act implemented the Children’s Codes, requiring platforms to enforce strong age verification and prevent exposure to pornography or harmful content. Ava Lee from Global Witness emphasized the need for regulatory intervention to protect children online.