The popular short video app TikTok is testing a new way to shield teens from mature or potentially inappropriate content. Today, the company announced several policy updates to make the platform safer and more secure for younger users.
The company is working on a system that can identify and restrict certain types of content from being accessed by teens on the platform. The app will also ask creators to specify if the content is more appropriate for adult audiences.
TikTok has already started a small test of its age-restricted content but there is no confirmation on how long will it take to make this system live to all users. Tracy Elizabeth, TikTok’s global issue policy lead, said, “A lot of this we haven’t fully decided how we’re going to do it.”
The company also wants to address other serious issues such as hateful content against LGBTQ communities. It will also revise its content policies to remove hateful ideologies, dangerous acts, and challenges, and eating disorder content.
“We’re making this change, in consultation with eating disorders experts, researchers, and physicians, as we understand that people can struggle with unhealthy eating patterns and behavior without having an eating disorder diagnosis. Our aim is to acknowledge more symptoms, such as overexercise or short-term fasting, that are frequently under-recognized signs of a potential problem,” the company said in the blog post.
TikTok and other social media apps are under scrutiny over the content and safety of young users. In the US, legislators are working on new COPPA law to protect teens from inappropriate content on social media. UK also wants to address children’s privacy issues. Changes in TikTok’s policy indicate that the company wants to address some concerns raised by U.S. senators and doesn’t want to get into any legal trouble for its content.
