More than half of social media child safety features aren’t working as advertised, new research finds | CNN Business

New York —

Social media giants have for years touted their growing slate of safety tools and protections as proof that they prioritize young users’ wellbeing.

But more than half of those protections don’t work as advertised, new research finds.

Researchers at the Cybersafety Research Center tested 86 youth safety features across TikTok, Instagram, Snap and YouTube and examined whether they worked as described and whether children could realistically find and use them. Only 35 of those features — just over 40% — successfully met both criteria.

YouTube, Instagram and Snap largely disputed the report’s findings, arguing that their features work as intended or that the tests did not represent typical use of the platforms by kids and teens. TikTok did not respond to CNN’s request for comment on the report.