Research

Systematic tracking and analysis of AI-generated content patterns across children's digital platforms, with focus on cross-platform mutation and emerging safeguarding risks.

Active Research Streams

AI Companion Safety

No Guardrails: AI Companion Chatbot Safety Assessment

October 2025 – March 2026 • Completed

Systematic safety assessment of 59 AI companion chatbot platforms examining child accessibility, safety guardrail effectiveness, age verification mechanisms, and security infrastructure.

  • 59 platforms assessed using structured risk methodology
  • 85% engaged with a self-disclosed 14-year-old
  • 91.5% rated Poor or Critical for security infrastructure
  • Responsible disclosure completed with UK regulators
Published March 2026
Platform Analysis

YouTube AI Content Evolution Tracking

January 2026 • Ongoing

Systematic monitoring of 347 YouTube channels producing AI-generated content targeting children, tracking evolution patterns from innocent material toward concerning themes.

  • Metadata analysis of 15,000+ videos
  • Thumbnail progression documentation
  • Cross-channel network mapping
  • Content mutation pattern identification
Active Monitoring
Cross-Platform Study

Elsagate-ification Framework Development

December 2025 • Ongoing

Comprehensive framework examining how innocent content systematically evolves into concerning material across TikTok, YouTube, and Roblox platforms through algorithmic optimization.

  • Historical pattern analysis from 2017-present
  • Platform-specific mutation pathways
  • Algorithmic amplification mechanisms
  • Safeguarding implications assessment
Active Development
Network Mapping

AI Content Network Structures

November 2025 • Phase 2

Documentation and analysis of coordinated AI content networks, examining posting patterns, engagement optimization strategies, and cross-platform presence.

  • Network topology mapping
  • Upload schedule correlation analysis
  • Content template identification
  • Coordination indicator tracking
In Progress

Planned Research

Controlled Observation

Poppy Playtime Chapter 5: Cross-Platform Content Tracking

March 2026 • In Progress

Prospective study using Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 release as a controlled observation point, tracking content evolution across YouTube and Roblox from launch through platform proliferation.

  • 2,526 items analysed across YouTube and Roblox
  • 224 child safety concern items identified
  • Release-window exploitation patterns documented
  • Scam infrastructure monitoring over five-day window
Active Analysis
Comparative Study

Instagram Reels vs YouTube Shorts: AI Content Strategies

Q2 2026 • Planning

Comparative analysis of how AI content networks adapt their strategies across different short-form video platforms.

Planned