Canada: TikTok does not adequately protect children

The popular short-form video platform TikTok is under scrutiny again, this time in Canada, after an investigation revealed serious shortcomings in protecting children and their personal data. The investigation, conducted by the country's Privacy Commissioner, Philippe Dufresne, and his team, concluded that the company's efforts to prevent the app from being used by people under the age of 13 are inadequate.

Despite TikTok’s claimed age restrictions, hundreds of thousands of children in Canada are still using the app. The worrying part is that the platform collects a large amount of sensitive personal data from these underage users — data that is then used to personalize content and serve targeted ads.

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Dufresne stressed that this massive data collection can have harmful psychological and social consequences for young users. Targeted content streaming, especially when based on algorithmic recommendations, can reinforce unhealthy behaviors, affect self-image, and expose minors to age-inappropriate advertising or messaging

What is TikTok's response?

In response to the criticism, TikTok has pledged to strengthen its security measures, promising new transparency practices and better informing users about how their data is being used. However, the company said it disagreed with some of the Canadian officials' conclusions , without specifying what they were, leaving questions about the scope of the changes it intends to implement.

The Canadian case is part of a global wave of pressure on the platform. Governments and regulators have been examining TikTok’s role in both privacy and national security. In the United States, the app’s future remains uncertain, with the government discussing solutions that could lead to a partial or full takeover of its operations by American companies. Meanwhile, in the European Union, institutions such as the European Commission have already taken restrictive measures, asking their staff to remove TikTok from company devices for cybersecurity reasons.

See also: Disney accused of collecting children's data on YouTube

Social media and children

The issue is particularly critical, as the role of social media in children's development is at the center of international debate. Psychologists and child protection experts warn that constant exposure to algorithmically filtered content can shape children's thinking and behavior, while data collection creates a worrying profile of each underage user, which can be exploited commercially.

For Canada, the research is a wake-up call for stronger data protection rules for minors. Regulators are considering new transparency requirements for platforms targeting young audiences, such as mandatory age verification and limits on data collection.

See also: Australia: Social media ban for children – Privacy concerns

TikTok, for its part, is trying to balance meeting regulatory requirements with maintaining its popularity with young users, a key part of its success. However, if governments continue to increase pressure, the platform may have to rethink how it handles minors' data to avoid fines, restrictions or even bans.

The incident shows that the debate about child safety online is entering a new phase. Authorities are no longer content with warnings; they are demanding tangible changes from platforms, while users and parents are being urged to be more careful about what they share and how apps use their children's data. For TikTok, this pressure may prove decisive for its global strategy.