Social media platforms are exposing children to violent and adult content despite promising age protections, according to an investigation conducted by Anadolu Agency's (AA) Discrimination Line using a profile designed to mimic a 14-year-old user.
The weeklong study examined how major platforms, including Instagram, YouTube and X, respond to the online behavior of underage users and how recommendation algorithms shape the content shown to them.
Researchers created accounts configured entirely as a 14-year-old user, adjusting everything from phone settings to account details. Searches were then carried out using keywords likely to attract children’s attention to observe how algorithms reacted to viewing and search histories.
The findings revealed that children allowed to spend long periods on social media face a growing risk of exposure to violent and adult content, while also becoming vulnerable to digital addiction.
Although platforms promise during registration to restrict inappropriate material for minors, the investigation found that harmful content appeared within a short time and was repeatedly promoted through recommendation systems.
On Instagram, researchers observed that feeds initially filled with neutral and general content quickly shifted toward violent imagery and material unsuitable for children. Videos featuring street fights, uncontrolled violence and disturbing scenes became increasingly prominent in the platform’s recommendations.
The report also warned that social media applications do not effectively filter such material and instead continue pushing it through discovery and explore sections.
The most striking findings emerged from X, where the child profile was reportedly able to access adult content and join communities sharing explicit material without encountering age verification or additional security checks.
Researchers said the 14-year-old profile could freely join adult groups where direct messaging and video sharing were enabled, raising concerns that children may become direct targets for harmful communication, including cyberbullying and predatory behavior.
The investigation concluded that X failed to uphold its own stated policy, which says the platform restricts potentially harmful content in recommendation systems and prevents underage users from accessing adult media.
On YouTube, the study found that recommendation algorithms rapidly adapted to viewing habits. While harmless content appeared at first, increasingly violent and disturbing videos were later promoted, including scenes from films and television series containing 18-plus material that the underage account could access without restrictions.
According to the findings, social media algorithms prioritize user engagement over age information, steering users toward increasingly extreme and attention-grabbing content based on what they watch, like or click.
The study concluded that children are not only exposed to harmful content online but are also becoming part of uncontrolled digital interaction spaces, making the risks in social media environments broader and harder to manage than they may appear.
Türkiye has recently accelerated efforts to tighten regulations on children’s social media use following growing concerns over exposure to violent, harmful and adult content online. Parliament last month passed legislation restricting access to social media platforms for children under the age of 15, requiring companies to implement age verification systems, parental control tools and faster responses to harmful content.
The regulations are part of a broader government strategy aimed at strengthening child safety in digital spaces and increasing platform accountability. Officials from the Ministry of Family and Social Services have said the measures are designed to protect children from online risks, including cyberbullying, digital addiction and exposure to inappropriate material.
The new framework also introduces potential penalties for platforms that fail to comply, including fines and bandwidth restrictions. Türkiye’s move aligns with a broader global trend, as countries like Australia have also introduced or discussed similar restrictions targeting children’s social media access.
