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Study Reveals Major Flaws in Social Media Safety Features for Kids

KVIA•Monday, June 29, 2026 at 1:15 PM•CNN Newsource

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AI Summary

A recent study by the Cybersafety Research Center found that over half of the child safety features on popular social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snap, and YouTube, do not function as promised. Out of 86 tested features, only 35, or 40%, effectively protected young users. The findings raise significant concerns about the platforms' claims of prioritizing youth safety, especially as these companies face numerous lawsuits regarding their impact on children. Parents are urged to be aware of these systemic issues, as the report emphasizes that the potential harms to children are real and can have lasting consequences. With ongoing discussions about federal regulation, the report highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures.

Key Details: • Only 35 out of 86 tested safety features were effective. • Failure rates: Snapchat 73%, Instagram 66%, YouTube 55%, TikTok 50%. • Parents should be aware of the limitations of safety features on these platforms. • Ongoing federal regulation discussions may impact social media safety practices.

research child-safety regulation social-media lawsuits

People & Organizations

YouTubeSnapInstagramCybersafety Research CenterNew York UniversityNortheastern University

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