Social media, like much of the internet, was not built with children in mind. Despite age restrictions, countless young people access these platforms daily — often exposing themselves to serious risks.
Children’s charity the NSPCC, alongside other safeguarding organisations, successfully campaigned for the introduction of the Online Safety Act — legislation designed to hold tech companies accountable for protecting young users. While the Act marks a significant step forward, experts warn that much more must be done.
New research commissioned by the NSPCC reveals that the most widely used social media platforms are consistently failing to protect girls, leaving them exposed to grooming, harassment and abuse. The report, Targeting of Girls Online, conducted by PA Consulting, examined ten popular platforms and uncovered a worrying ease with which fake profiles can be used to contact underage users.
The report further highlights how some platform features inadvertently push young girls to expand their online networks and increase screen time — frequently compromising their safety. These design choices, driven by engagement metrics, often prioritise popularity over protection.
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Complementing these findings, new polling by YouGov reveals overwhelming public concern. Of the 3,593 British adults surveyed, 86 per cent believe tech companies are not doing enough to protect girls under 18. Parents of daughters cited their biggest fears as contact with strangers, online grooming, bullying and sexual harassment. More than half expressed anxiety over their child’s experiences online.
The NSPCC continues to call on tech companies to fundamentally rethink platform design and to prioritise age-appropriate, safe digital spaces for children. The report outlines several practical solutions: requiring all platforms to carry out ‘abusability studies’ to assess potentially harmful features, introducing robust safety testing before new features are launched, and improving reporting tools by incorporating screenshot functions and automatic detection of sensitive personal details.
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Further recommendations include a ‘cooling-off’ period after new user connections, restrictions on video calls from unverified adults, and the development of age-specific safety settings. The NSPCC also urges Ofcom to publish best practice guidance for regulated services and to actively support implementation across the sector. Without decisive action and the introduction of these safeguards, young girls will remain dangerously exposed to predators in online spaces.
