The short-form video app is tweaking its viewing experience, so users will now see fewer videos on topics that “may be fine as a single video, but potentially problematic if viewed repeatedly,” according to Cormac Keenan. head of trust and security of the company. . Keenan cited issues related to diet, extreme fitness, and sadness as examples of this content. (Instagram, TikTok’s rival, has also previously tried to prevent teens from seeing certain weight loss products).
TikTok also said it is launching a new system that organizes content based on thematic maturity, not much different from the rating systems used in film and television. The new guarantees will assign a “maturity score” to videos detected as possible mature or complex issues.
The goal, according to Keenan, is to “help prevent content with openly mature topics from reaching audiences between the ages of 13 and 17.”
Senators asked TikTok, YouTube and Snap executives late last year about the steps their platforms were taking to protect teens online after a Facebook whistleblower renewed his concern about the impact that they have social networking platforms in their younger users. In addition, a coalition of state attorneys general began an investigation earlier this year specifically into the impact of TikTok on young Americans. In a statement at the time, TikTok said it limits its age characteristics, provides tools and resources to parents, and designs its policies with youth welfare in mind.
In Wednesday’s blog post, Keenen said the company is “focused on further safeguarding the teen experience” and will add new functionality to offer more detailed content filtering options in the coming weeks.