Breach in children’s online safety:Study finds YouTube, Instagram safety features fall short in blocking objectionable content

Social media companies like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube have launched dozens of new safety features for teenagers in recent years. Companies claim that these can protect children from strangers, objectionable content, and social media addiction. But new research from New York University and Northeastern University has questioned these claims. Researchers investigated the safety features of these platforms and found that many features either do not work properly, some can be bypassed in a few seconds, while some are limited to claims only. Major flaws were found in these three platforms 1. Snapchat – Claims to protect from strangers, but reaches children via username
Snapchat stated in 2023 that teenagers would now only be visible to people who were their acquaintances (Mutual Friends). However, research found that if someone knew a teenager’s username, they could easily find their account. Snapchat itself was also suggesting profiles of adults to teenagers with whom they had no connection. 2. Instagram – Account private, but the algorithm suggests strangers
Meta had stated when launching teen accounts that teenagers’ accounts would remain private by default and unwanted contacts would be reduced. However, when researchers created a new account for a girl, almost all the profiles in the ‘Suggested for You’ section were of adult men whom she didn’t even know. 3. YouTube – YouTube suggests turning off screen time limits itself YouTube offers a 60-minute screen time limit and ‘Take a Break’ reminders for teenagers. Research found that as soon as the time limit is reached, YouTube itself displays options like ‘Ignore limit for today’ and ‘Change limit’. YouTube states that if parents set screen time through Family Link, children cannot change it. Safety features exist, but are difficult to find The safety features of these platforms are hidden in such complex menus that ordinary parents are unaware of them. Some features were not enabled by default. Meta said – Teen features reduce screen time Meta said that after the implementation of teen accounts, teenagers are viewing less sensitive content, spending less time on Instagram at night, and unwanted contacts have also decreased. Experts said – The problem is weak security tools Meta’s former psychologist, Aeneke Buffone, says that many times these tools are either incomplete or so complex that their full benefit cannot be obtained. They need to be made stricter.