X Under Fire: Report Finds Explicit Content Easily Accessible To Teens

Teens at Risk on X

In a startling revelation, a report has uncovered how Elon Musk's platform, X, could potentially expose 13-year-olds to sexually explicit content. This alarming finding suggests that the platform may be failing to adhere to the Online Safety Act's guidelines.

The Centre of Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) discovered that X's algorithm and insufficient safeguards were recommending pornography to teenagers, further allowing possible direct sexual contact from adults.

Methodology Behind the Findings

CCDH researchers in the UK took measures to test X's adult content policies. They created two accounts posing as a 13-year-old boy and girl, exploring the platform's search results, algorithms, and Communities section.

By entering terms a curious teenager might explore, such as "sex, porn, boobs, and hentai," they found a staggering 80% of searches returned explicit results within the top ten media-inclusive results. Disturbingly, no age checks or content warnings appeared.

Alarming Algorithm Adjustments

Following these explicit searches, the teen accounts' "For You" algorithm adapted to display graphic images, with 30.5% of feed recommendations being explicit. Shockingly, these accounts easily joined 15 out of 20 sexual communities, encountering transactional and overtly sexual content.

"These findings show X will quickly reshape its ‘For You’ feed to recommend explicit content to young users," said Callum Hood, head of research at CCDH UK.

Worse yet, by bypassing default messaging settings, teen accounts received direct messages from adults, including unsolicited explicit videos.

Calls for Action

As X continues to underperform in meeting the Online Safety Act's standards, the platform faces potential fines up to 10% of its global revenue. Platforms like PornHub have already adapted with age verification to comply.

Ofcom has launched an investigation into X, alongside over 100 other platforms, and levied multiple fines for non-compliance. The Children’s Commissioner for England called X a primary source of pornography for kids, urging for stricter adherence to protective measures.

The Road Ahead for Online Safety

With enforcement powers at their disposal, Ofcom vows to ensure safer online experiences for children. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology echoes this sentiment, emphasizing platforms' responsibilities under the Online Safety Act.

A consultation is underway to enhance protection, considering age limits and safer AI chatbot designs. The Independent has contacted X for their response to these troubling findings.