The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) has announced that it is launching three investigations looking into how TikTok, Reddit and Imgur protect the privacy of their child users in the UK.

The investigation into TikTok will consider how the platform uses personal information of 13–17-year-olds in the UK to make recommendations to them and deliver suggested content to their feeds.

This is in light of growing concerns about social media and video sharing platforms using data generated by children’s online activity in their recommender systems, which could lead to young people being served inappropriate or harmful content.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Imgur and Reddit are considering how the platforms use UK children’s personal information and their use of age assurance measures.

Age assurance plays an important role in keeping children, and their personal information, safe online. There are tools or approaches that can help estimate or verify a child’s age, which then allow services to be tailored to their needs or access to be restricted.

The ICO has stated that the investigations are part of our efforts to ensure companies are designing digital services that protect children.

The organisation will investigate whether there have been any infringements of data protection legislation. If they find there is sufficient evidence that any of these companies have broken the law, ‘we will put this to them and obtain their representations before reaching a final conclusion,’ according to Ofcom.

John Edwards, UK Information Commissioner said: “We welcome the technology and innovation that companies like social media bring to the UK and want them to thrive in our economy. But this cannot be at the expense of children’s privacy.

“My message is simple. If social media and video sharing platforms want to benefit from operating in the UK they must comply with data protection law.

“The responsibility to keep children safe online lies firmly at the door of the companies offering these services and my office is steadfast in its commitment to hold them to account.

“I also want to take this opportunity to assure children, parents and carers in the UK that we are working on their behalf to make the online world a safer place.

“In announcing these investigations, we are making it clear to the public what action we are currently taking to ensure children’s information rights are upheld. This is a priority area, and we will provide updates about any further action we decide to take”.

The investigation is the latest from the UK regulatory body to focus on child privacy concerns.

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• Data Privacy Day: Where are We and How Did We Get Here?

Last year, the ICO called on 11 social media and video sharing platforms to improve their children’s privacy practices, with the regulatory body stating that where platforms do not comply with the law, they will face enforcement action.

This follows an ongoing review of social media platforms (SMPs) and video sharing platforms (VSPs) as part of the ICO’s Children’s Code Strategy. This latest notice comes following the organisation’s Tech Lab reviewing 34 SMPs and VSPs focusing on the process young people go through to sign-up for accounts.

Varying levels of adherence to the Children’s code were found, with some platforms not doing enough to protect children’s privacy, according to the ICO.