In this photo taken on Jan 21, 2021, a teenager presents a smartphone with the logo of Chinese social network TikTok in Nantes, western France. (PHOTO / AFP)
LONDON – The number of children using TikTok and Snapchat rose last year in Britain, according to research published by media regulator Ofcom.
Around half of those aged between 3 and 17 use TikTok and Snapchat, figures collected as part of the watchdog’s annual survey of children's and parents’ online attitudes showed.
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The study found a slight increase in both apps’ popularity in the past year, with TikTok now being used by 53 percent of children (up from 50 percent), and Snapchat by 46 percent (up from 42 percent).
Children of all ages reported choosing to watch ‘dramatic’ content in various forms when selecting TV shows and films to watch.
Ofcom report
Both companies have faced mounting pressure over user safety in recent months.
Ofcom’s annual report on attitudes towards media found children’s usage of YouTube, Whatsapp and Instagram remained steady (88 percent, 55 percent and 41 percent, respectively), while the popularity of Meta's Facebook platform declined (from 40 percent to 34 percent).
“Children of all ages reported choosing to watch ‘dramatic’ content in various forms when selecting TV shows and films to watch," the report said.
Ofcom also found the proportion of 3- and 4-year-olds using Snapchat had risen to 17 percent in 2022, up from 12 percent the previous year.
A TikTok spokesperson said government bans were based on “fundamental misconceptions” around TikTok’s safety protocols.
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A Snap spokesperson said criticism of its record on underage users misrepresented its efforts, saying it blocks and deletes tens of thousands of attempts by underage UK users to create Snapchat accounts monthly.