Kym Marsh has called for social media companies to do more to vet their content after she was left "shocked" at some of the "sexually explicit content" on the websites.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ star admitted she has received "horrible messages by dirty old men" on social media, and she is concerned kids will be exposed to similar disturbing content after a video recently circulated on TikTok of a man taking his own life.
Kym said: "It’s absolutely shocking that these social media apps are worth so much money yet still can’t properly vet the content that’s on them.
"It’s the same with Twitter. I’ve been sent some horrible messages by dirty old men, and I’ve been shocked at some of the sexually explicit content I hear is posted on people’s feeds.
"It’s wild that this content can be so easily shared. This is a real issue.
"I don’t want children to be exposed to these things."
The 44-year-old actress – who has nine-year-old daughter Polly, and older children Emilie, 23, and David, 25 – was left "horrified" after hearing about the TikTok video, and while her daughter doesn’t have an account, she messaged other mums to make them aware of the clip.
She said: "Polly doesn’t have TikTok but I messaged the mums at school to warn them, and they all made sure their children didn’t go on it."
The former cobbles resident recently co-hosted consumer affairs TV show ‘For Love or Money’, which offered advice and guidance to viewers during the coronavirus pandemic, and she is currently shooting a second series.
Writing in her OK! magazine column, Kym – who played Michelle Connor in ‘Corrie’ – added: "I feel like it’s evolved a lot since the first series and I can’t wait for you to see what we’re doing."