Internal Data Shows Snapchat Deletes Fewer UK Child Accounts Than TikTok

Snapchat is still few in releasing children's accounts compared to TikTok. (Photo: twitter @Snapchat)

JAKARTA - Snapchat kicks out hundreds of children's accounts in the UK every month, compared to TikTok which blocks tens of thousands of accounts. Internal data of the two companies has been shared with UK media regulator Ofcom and was seen by Reuters.

While Instagram is owned by Meta, TikTok is owned by ByteDance, and Snapchat is owned by Snap Inc. now limiting users to be at least 13 years old to protect children's privacy and safety.

Before the UK's Online Safety Bill was implemented, Ofcom required TikTok and Snapchat to disclose the number of accounts under the age of 13 suspected of having been blocked in a year. According to data seen by Reuters, TikTok said that between April 2021 and April 2022, it had blocked an average of around 180,000 accounts suspected of being under 13 each month, or about 2 million in the 12-month period. On the other hand, Snapchat deletes around 60 accounts per month, or no more than 700 in total.

A spokesperson for Snapchat told Reuters the figure illustrates the scale of the work they are doing to keep children under 13 off their platform. However, the spokesperson declined to provide additional context or detail the specific blocking actions the company has taken.

Recent research from Ofcom shows that both apps are equally popular among underage users. However, children are more likely to create their own personal account on Snapchat than using a parent's account, compared to TikTok.

Snapchat blocks users from registering with birthdays under the age of 13. Reuters was unable to specify what protocols were in place to remove underage users after they accessed the platform and the spokesperson did not provide further details.

Ofcom told Reuters that assessing the video-sharing platform's steps in protecting children online remained their main focus and they would report on their findings later this year. Currently, it is the responsibility of social media companies to set age limits on their platforms.

However, under the Online Safety Bill, they will be required by law to comply with these restrictions and demonstrate how they do so. For example through age verification technology. Companies that fail to comply with their terms of service can be fined up to 10% of their annual revenue.

By 2022, Ofcom research found that 60% of children between the ages of eight and 11 had at least one social media account, often created by providing a false date of birth. Regulators also found that Snapchat was the most popular app for underage social media users.

The Risks of Snapchat and TikTok for Young People

Advokat keselamatan anak mengatakan bahwa media sosial membawa risiko serius bagi anak-anak muda.

Menurut angka yang baru-baru ini diterbitkan oleh NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Young Children), Snapchat menyumbang 43% dari kasus di mana media sosial digunakan untuk mendistribusikan gambar tidak senonoh anak-anak.

Richard Collard, head of the online child safety association at the NSPCC, said it was worrying how few underage users Snapchat deleted.

"Snapchat needs to take much stronger action to ensure that young people are not using the platform, and older children are protected from harm," said Collard.

The UK, like the European Union and other countries, has been looking for ways to protect social media users, especially children, from harmful content without undermining free speech.

Enforcing age restrictions is expected to be a key part of the Online Safety Act, along with ensuring companies remove content that is illegal or prohibited by their terms of service.

A TikTok spokesperson said their figures show the strength of the company's efforts to remove suspected underage users.

"TikTok is strictly an 13+ platform and we have processes in place to enforce our minimum age requirements, both at the time of registration and through ongoing proactive removal of accounts suspected of being underage from our platform," they said.