There’s a common belief that the major online platforms, the ones we use every day, the giants with billions of users, have our safety at heart. Especially when it comes to protecting vulnerable people and children in particular. It seems obvious, doesn’t it? When a company talks about “community standards” or “child safety features,” most of us assume they mean business. After all, these companies have the resources, the expertise, and the responsibility to keep us safe online.
But should we take that for granted?
The truth is often more complicated. Big corporations certainly have an interest in safety, but their primary motivation is often protecting their own business, reputation, and bottom line (ie £s speak). This doesn’t mean they ignore safety, but it does mean their approach can be inconsistent, or at times even counterproductive.
Take Facebook, now Meta, for example. The company has launched countless initiatives to tackle harmful content and protect young users. They roll out tools like parental controls and AI filters to detect bullying or inappropriate material. On paper, it looks great. But investigations over the years have revealed troubling gaps between the promises and the reality. Internal reports leaked to the press showed how some algorithms prioritised engagement, pushing sensational or divisive content, sometimes at the expense of user wellbeing. For teenagers, the impact could be serious, contributing to anxiety, depression, or worse.
YouTube is another interesting case. It invests heavily in moderation and uses machine learning to flag inappropriate videos. Yet, it has struggled with content aimed at children that is either inappropriate or designed to exploit young viewers’ attention for ad revenue. Many parents assumed that the “Kids” section would be a safe haven, but it took years of public pressure and regulatory scrutiny to push for better safeguards.
Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Nest devices have been marketed as helpful family assistants. They include voice recognition and parental settings designed to protect children from unsuitable content. Yet, privacy concerns remain. These companies collect vast amounts of data, raising questions about whether protecting users, especially children, comes first or whether data collection and targeted advertising are the real priorities.
It’s important to acknowledge that online safety is incredibly complex. Technology evolves faster than regulations, and the scale of these platforms means perfect control is nearly impossible. But the assumption that big corporations naturally have a vested interest in user safety, particularly for vulnerable groups, can lull us into a false sense of security.
What should we take away from this?
Firstly, it’s vital to maintain a healthy scepticism. When a platform promotes a safety feature, look beyond the headlines. Ask who benefits most and whether there are independent audits or transparent data on effectiveness.
Secondly, governments and regulators must play an active role. Relying solely on corporate goodwill isn’t enough. Laws need to keep pace with technology, enforcing clear standards and accountability for harm caused.
Lastly, as users, especially parents and guardians, we must stay informed and involved. Safety tools are helpful, but nothing replaces awareness, conversation, and supervision. Technology alone won’t solve the problem.
Big corporations do have a role to play in online safety, no question. But their interests are layered and sometimes conflicting. The best protection for the vulnerable, especially children, comes from a combined effort: clear rules, corporate responsibility, and engaged users who don’t take safety for granted.
Because the online world is only going to get bigger, more immersive, and more complex. We owe it to those who are most at risk to keep pushing for real, effective safety, not just promises.
And above all, we also need to keep checking that the processes in place are truly doing what we believe. There is a difference between what we think they should be doing and what they are actually doing.
