TikTok Tests Age-Rated Content Restrictions

TikTok is engaged on methods to fee and limit content material by age with the intention to forestall grownup content material from reaching teenage customers of its brief video app, the corporate mentioned at a information briefing.

TikTok, which has exploded in recognition amongst teenagers in recent times, mentioned it was operating a small take a look at for a way adult-rated content material could possibly be restricted from accounts belonging to youthful customers, both by the consumer or their dad and mom and guardians.

The firm, owned by Chinese tech titan ByteDance, mentioned it was drawing on the varieties of content-rating requirements already used for motion pictures and gaming. It mentioned it will take a look at a method for creators on the app to specify if they need their content material to solely be considered by older audiences.

Social media platforms have been underneath scrutiny over their approaches to the wellbeing and security of youthful customers. Meta Platforms, the father or mother firm of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been blasted by US lawmakers over its plan to introduce a model of Instagram for teenagers.

Last yr, a coalition of state attorneys normal opened a probe into Meta for selling Instagram to youngsters regardless of potential harms, after leaked inside paperwork raised questions on firm analysis into Instagram’s results on the psychological well being of sweet sixteen customers.

TikTok, which has been criticised for posts selling consuming problems and maintains it bans such content material, mentioned in a weblog publish on Tuesday it will begin to take away posts selling broader disordered-eating content material as nicely.

“We understand that people can struggle with unhealthy eating patterns and behavior without having an eating disorder diagnosis,” it mentioned within the publish.

“Our aim is to acknowledge more symptoms, such as overexercise or short-term fasting, that are frequently under-recognized signs of a potential problem.”

© Thomson Reuters 2022