TikTok is a short-form video app that has exploded in popularity in recent years, especially among younger users. It currently has over 1 billion monthly active users globally. However, TikTok has faced scrutiny and accusations around inappropriate or sexually suggestive content popping up, especially for younger users. There have been concerns raised that sexually explicit videos or nudity can be found on TikTok without enough safeguards in place. Some critics argue TikTok’s algorithms can surface more risqué content without proper content moderation. This has sparked debates about whether TikTok enables adult content without the right protections.
TikTok’s Policies on Adult Content
TikTok’s Community Guidelines explicitly prohibit nudity, pornography, and sexually explicit content on the platform. According to the guidelines, “We do not allow nudity, including uncovered genitals and buttocks, as well as nipples and areolas of women and girls. Sheer and partially see-through clothing is also not allowed.”
TikTok uses a combination of artificial intelligence and human moderators to identify and remove inappropriate adult content that violates these guidelines. The platform states that nudity and sexual content have “no place on TikTok.” Content moderation is focused on quickly taking down videos that feature explicit sexual acts, exposed genitals, and other graphic sexual material.
Accusations of Inappropriate Content
TikTok has faced accusations that sexualized content slips through its moderation system and ends up being seen by minors. In February 2021, the European consumer group BEUC filed a complaint stating that TikTok failed “to protect children and teenagers from hidden advertising and potentially harmful content.” They argued that sexualized images and videos were too easily accessed through TikTok’s recommendation algorithm.
Another concern is that TikTok’s main “For You” feed, which recommends videos based on a user’s interests and interactions, may end up serving adult content to minors without enough safeguards. Critics say the app’s strong recommendation system can quickly steer young users towards inappropriate material without realizing it.
TikTok’s Defense
The platform claims it has strict policies against adult content.
TikTok says it aims to provide an app for users 13+ (source). The company has stated that sexually explicit content goes against its community guidelines and is not allowed on the platform (source).
In response to accusations, TikTok asserts that it has robust measures in place to remove inappropriate content and ban offending accounts. The company claims the percentage of adult content is extremely low compared to the huge volume of videos uploaded daily.
TikTok maintains that their safety teams work diligently to keep the platform safe, especially for younger users. They say they are continuously improving their content moderation technology and policies.
Steps TikTok is Taking
TikTok has taken several steps to try to better detect and remove inappropriate content from their platform. Some of their key efforts include:
Improving keyword blocking technology – TikTok uses automated systems to detect potentially problematic keywords and block certain videos from appearing in feeds. They claim to have strengthened enforcement against sexually suggestive keywords.
Increasing number of content moderators – TikTok has expanded its content moderation teams to increase the amount of manual reviews. Moderators work 24/7 to identify and remove inappropriate videos.
Partnering with experts to strengthen protections – TikTok has formed partnerships with organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to collaborate on improving safety measures.
Third-Party Verification
TikTok has sought to validate its safety practices through independent audits and analysis from reputable third parties. In June 2022, TikTok announced it had partnered with Nisos, a leading cybersecurity firm, to conduct regular audits of TikTok’s source code and software dependencies to ensure there are no backdoors that could be used by malicious actors.
According to TikTok, Nisos will have “unrestricted access to observe and validate how we operate software and systems to protect user data.” The audit results will be shared publicly to provide transparency. In addition to Nisos, TikTok has partnered with other third-party organizations including Praesidio and ByteDance’s Internal Audit and Risk Management departments to review its security practices.
Leading online child safety groups like Thorn have partnered with TikTok to analyze platform risks and make recommendations for improving minor safety. In 2020, Thorn commended TikTok as an industry leader in child safety and recommended specific steps which TikTok then implemented. Continued partnerships with third parties provide accountability and expert guidance for strengthening protections.
Parental Controls
TikTok provides a parental control feature called Family Pairing that allows parents to monitor and control their child’s TikTok account (https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/user-safety). Parents can link their TikTok account to their child’s account to enable restrictions and oversight.
Through Family Pairing, parents can restrict certain content and limit screen time. They can limit content to moderated TikTok feeds and restrict direct messaging. Parents can also remove the ability to search for content and users. These controls allow parents to customize their child’s TikTok experience and limit exposure to inappropriate content.
User Education
TikTok provides resources to educate both parents and teens on how to have a safe experience on the platform. For parents, TikTok has published guides on setting controls and restrictions to manage their child’s account. There are instructions for enabling Restricted Mode to limit the appearance of inappropriate content, as well as for setting screen time limits. TikTok has also partnered with online safety groups to provide webinars and advice for parents.
For teen users, TikTok offers guidance directly in the app on managing privacy settings and blocking unwanted interactions. In the app’s Digital Wellbeing controls, teens can restrict comments and messages to followers only. TikTok also provides advice for teens on identifying and reporting accounts that may be spreading harmful misinformation or predatory behavior. By educating its users, TikTok aims to create an informed community that can help keep the platform safe.
Remaining Challenges
Despite TikTok’s efforts, some challenges remain in trying to eliminate all inappropriate content from the platform. As reported, users find creative ways to work around restrictions and moderation tactics. The nature of a platform with billions of users makes it difficult to completely prevent people from uploading or live streaming adult content. TikTok acknowledges this challenge, stating “we recognize that our controls, no matter how robust, will never be perfect”.
Some critics argue that the platform structure and algorithm can too easily expose younger users to inappropriate content, even unintentionally. While parental controls and restrictions help, problems remain in limiting exposure and preventing users from finding ways around safeguards. TikTok emphasizes education and promoting positive content, but recognizes this as an ongoing battle requiring continual improvement of policies and enforcement.
Conclusion
In summary, TikTok has faced criticism for allowing inappropriate adult content, but has taken steps to address these concerns. TikTok updated its community guidelines to ban nudity, sexual activities, and sexually explicit content. It uses AI tools to proactively detect violations and relies on user reporting to flag inappropriate content. TikTok also partnered with third parties to audit its practices and rolled out parental controls to empower parents.
However, challenges remain. Users continue to find ways around restrictions, highlighting the need for ongoing vigilance. While TikTok has made progress, the platform must continue improving its safeguards, especially around youth protection. Users also need to be educated on community guidelines. Ultimately, parental oversight remains essential to ensure children have positive experiences on TikTok. The company still faces an uphill battle to fully eliminate adult content, but through a combination of policy enforcement, user tools, and education, TikTok hopes to create a safe environment as it continues rapidly growing.