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According to a recent investigation, TikTok has been discovered to guide children's accounts to pornographic content within a small number of clicks.

Testing Approach

A campaign organization created fake accounts using a 13-year-old's birth date and activated the "restricted mode" setting, which is designed to limit exposure to adult-oriented content.

Researchers found that TikTok suggested inappropriate and adult-themed search terms to seven test accounts that were set up on unused smartphones with no search history.

Troubling Search Prompts

The terms recommended under the "suggested searches" feature included "extremely revealing clothing" and "very rude babes" – and then advanced to phrases such as "hardcore pawn [sic] clips".

Regarding three of the accounts, the inappropriate search terms were recommended right away.

Quick Path to Pornography

Within minimal interaction, the study team encountered pornographic content including exposure to penetrative sex.

The organization reported that the content tried to bypass filters, usually by displaying the clip within an innocuous picture or video.

In one instance, the procedure took two taps after signing in: one click on the search feature and then another on the suggested search.

Regulatory Context

The research entity, whose remit includes researching digital platforms' effect on public safety, stated it carried out two batches of tests.

Initial tests occurred before the implementation of minor safety measures under the UK's Online Safety Act on 25 July, and a second set following the regulations took effect.

Serious Findings

The organization added that two videos showed someone who appeared to be below the age of consent and had been reported to the online safety group, which monitors online child sexual abuse material.

Global Witness alleged that TikTok was in violation of the UK safety legislation, which mandates tech companies to block children from accessing inappropriate videos such as explicit content.

Government Position

A communications officer for Ofcom, which is tasked with regulating the act, said: "We appreciate the work behind this study and will review its results."

Ofcom's codes for following the law state that digital platforms that pose a substantial threat of showing harmful content must "configure their algorithms to remove harmful content from minors' content streams.

TikTok's content guidelines forbid explicit material.

Company Reaction

The video platform stated that upon receiving information from the organization, it had taken down the offending videos and implemented adjustments to its search recommendations.

"Upon learning of these allegations, we took immediate action to examine the issue, take down videos that breached our guidelines, and launch improvements to our search suggestion feature," said a official speaker.