A new independent study has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of child safety measures offered by some of the world’s largest social media platforms, revealing that a majority of the tools promoted to protect young users either fail to function as intended or are difficult to access. The findings have reignited the global debate over whether existing safety mechanisms are adequate and whether stricter age verification systems can offer a practical solution.
The research, conducted by the Cybersafety Research Center, evaluated 86 child safety features available across four leading platforms—Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube. According to the study, only 35 of the tested features worked as advertised, while the remaining 51 either failed during testing, could not be located by users, or did not perform their intended function. Researchers concluded that nearly 60 per cent of the safety measures fell short of expectations, potentially leaving children vulnerable to harmful online experiences despite parental efforts to enable protective settings.
The findings have emerged at a time when governments across several countries are considering or implementing tougher regulations to shield minors from online risks. Australia, which recently introduced a law barring children under the age of 16 from creating accounts on major social media platforms, has become a focal point in the discussion. However, a separate study has suggested that even these strict legal measures are struggling to achieve their objective because platforms are failing to properly verify users’ ages during registration.
Researchers involved in evaluating Australia’s new system found that test accounts claiming to belong to 16-year-olds were generally allowed to register without providing documentary proof of age. In several cases, platforms appeared to recognize users as teenagers for advertising purposes but still did not trigger additional verification checks. The results have prompted fresh questions about whether self-declared birth dates and existing age-estimation technologies are sufficient to prevent underage access.
Experts behind the child safety audit noted that many parents assume the availability of safety features automatically translates into meaningful protection. However, they warned that several tools were either hidden within complicated settings, inconsistently enforced or simply ineffective in blocking inappropriate recommendations, unwanted interactions or harmful content. This gap between advertised protections and actual performance, researchers said, may create a false sense of security for families relying on platform safeguards.
The debate has also highlighted the challenges surrounding age verification technologies. While many policymakers advocate mandatory verification to prevent children from accessing age-restricted services, privacy experts caution that such systems may require users to submit sensitive personal information, including government-issued identification or biometric data. Critics argue that this could expose users to new privacy and cybersecurity risks while still being vulnerable to circumvention through false information or technological workarounds.
Technology companies have generally maintained that they continue investing in tools aimed at improving online safety for younger users. Many platforms offer parental supervision options, content filters, restricted messaging, screen-time controls and private account settings. Nevertheless, researchers argue that the effectiveness of these measures depends not only on their availability but also on their accessibility, reliability and consistent implementation across all users.
The latest findings are expected to add pressure on regulators worldwide as they consider stronger legal obligations for technology companies. Governments in countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom are already examining stricter online safety frameworks, including mandatory age assurance systems and greater accountability for platforms that fail to protect minors. However, experts emphasize that effective child safety will likely require a combination of improved platform design, transparent enforcement, parental awareness and balanced regulation that safeguards both children’s welfare and users’ privacy.
