TikTok drops its appeal over under-13 accounts

By the Editorial Team · Friday, September 25, 2026

TikTok has withdrawn its appeal against a £12.7 million fine imposed by the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office for failing to prevent children under 13 from accessing its platform. This decision ends the dispute and highlights growing regulatory demands on social media companies to enforce age restrictions and enhance protections for younger users.

TikTok has decided to drop its appeal against a £12.7 million fine imposed by the United Kingdom’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) related to the presence of underage users on its platform. The penalty, issued in 2023, was levied after the ICO concluded that TikTok failed to implement sufficient measures to prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing the service.

The ICO’s investigation revealed that as many as 1.75 million users in the UK were under 13 in 2020, despite TikTok’s terms of service explicitly prohibiting account creation by individuals below that age threshold. The regulator criticized the company for inadequate age verification mechanisms and insufficient steps to curb underage usage.

In response, a spokesperson for TikTok emphasized that the ICO’s findings do not accurately represent the company’s ongoing commitment to youth safety. The spokesperson noted that TikTok has introduced numerous safety policies and technical safeguards since the period covered by the investigation, aiming to better protect younger users.

By choosing not to contest the fine further, TikTok will remit the full amount to the ICO, concluding the dispute. The resolution underscores increasing regulatory scrutiny over the presence of minors on social media platforms and the responsibilities of tech companies to enforce age restrictions and safeguard younger audiences.

The ICO continues to advocate for stronger protections in digital services to address the risks posed to children online, highlighting the challenges social media companies face in managing age-appropriate content and user verification on global platforms.

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