MALWAREBYTES Labs conducted research into how well mainstream platforms protect children under 13 online, with testing carried out between 1 December and 17 December 2025 using US-based accounts. The study found that most services perform well when kids use the accounts and settings designed for them, but problems emerge when children use the wrong account type or bypass boundaries.
Notably, on YouTube, the public site can be accessed without logging in, allowing exposure to scam and fraud content and violent footage, whereas YouTube Kids remains separate and is largely free of harmful material.
The researchers observed that age gates are easily bypassed on several platforms—Roblox, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, and Twitch among them—sometimes leading to searches for or discovery of illicit material, while other services such as Fortnite restrict chats and purchases for under-13s until a parent verifies details.
The article stresses that parental involvement remains the most important protective layer, with guidance on using dedicated child accounts, private settings, and ongoing conversations, and it notes that while regulation evolves, no controls can fully replace vigilance, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation.