Study Finds 60 Percent of Social Media Safety Tools Failed Tests While Others Functioned as Intended

A Snap spokesperson said many of the report’s findings are based on researchers intentionally bypassing protections that are not representative of the typical user experience.

The company stated it is continually evaluating and strengthening its protections. A TikTok U.S. spokesperson said teen accounts have over 50 preset safety features and settings automatically turned on, with additional parental controls via Family Pairing, and that an internal review confirms the features are working as intended.

A YouTube spokesperson said 84 percent of parents who used its supervised account tools agree the tools give confidence their child accesses a safer digital environment. The New York Times replicated many of the report’s findings. A jury in a California civil case found YouTube and Meta liable for creating platforms addictive to minors.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act last month. Australia, Indonesia and the U.K. have moved to ban certain major social media platforms for users under 16.

Dr. Joel Stoddard, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said parents should require children to share account passwords and set expectations about social media use when first granting access. He stated it is much harder to walk back boundaries than to set expectations upfront.

Jasmine Hood Miller, director of family resources and content strategy at Common Sense Media, said parents should familiarize themselves with platforms, be thoughtful about the age at which they introduce social media, and have open conversations with children.