'We need a culture change!' Ofcom's 'significant intervention' on children's online safety backed by campaigner

Ofcom's report criticising TikTok and YouTube for failing to go "far enough" in protecting children online has been backed by an online safety campaigner.

Speaking to GB News, Jennifer Powers, Founder and Director of Unplugged Coalition, described the publication as "a really significant intervention from Ofcom".

Ofcom is warning that some major tech firms are still failing to protect children online.

It says TikTok and YouTube in particular have "not committed" to significant changes to make children's personalised feeds safer.

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She noted the timing was particularly relevant, coming just ahead of next week's deadline for the Government's consultation on social media restrictions.

While the regulator focused on TikTok and YouTube specifically, Ms Powers suggested many parents would likely feel that protective measures remain inadequate across all platforms.

Ms Powers characterised the statistics contained within the report as "harrowing," though she acknowledged that the findings did not come as a surprise given her daily work on these issues.

She said: "We know that what's needed is a huge culture change in this country with regard to children and addictive technology, children and their use of screens."

She emphasised that parents have a responsibility to recognise the substantial negative effects that excessive screen exposure can have on babies, toddlers and older children alike.

However, Ms Powers maintained that parental awareness alone cannot address the scale of the problem facing young people today.

Ms Powers argued that both the Government and Ofcom must hold major technology companies to account, despite the economic benefits these firms bring through innovation, investment and employment.

She said: "That doesn't mean that we should give them a carte blanche to steal our children's childhoods and to have such a negative impact."

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She stressed that children lack the same agency as adults, making it essential to establish protective guardrails on their behalf.

Ms Powers interpreted Ofcom's report as a clear signal that the voluntary measures currently being implemented by technology platforms are simply not sufficient to safeguard young users.

She concluded: "Yes, of course we want their innovation, we want their investment, we want the jobs.

"MR BBut that doesn't mean that we should give them a carte blanche to steal our children's childhoods and to have such a negative impact. And let's not forget children, they don't have the agency that we have as adults.

"And so it's right, in my view, that we set guardrails and that we protect them. And I think what Ofcom is doing is saying, look, these voluntary measures that these tech platforms are making are not sufficient to safeguard children."

A spokesman for TikTok said in a statement: "It's very disappointing that Ofcom has failed to acknowledge both our long standing and newer safety features, from no direct messaging for under-16 pre-set private teen accounts to our recently enhanced age assurance technologies.

"We will continue to make ongoing investments in safety measures for our users."

A YouTube spokesman said: "The platform provides industry leading, age appropriate, high quality experiences for young viewers working with child safety experts to deliver protections that support millions of families across Britain.

"YouTube kids and teen accounts offer age appropriate experiences with extra protections."

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