TikTok's Algorithm Recommends Porn to Children, Report Finds
A recent report by human rights campaign group Global Witness has revealed that TikTok's algorithm recommends pornography and highly sexualized content to children's accounts. According to the report, researchers created four fake child accounts on the platform in late July and early August this year, pretending to be 13-year-olds. Despite activating safety settings, the accounts still received sexually explicit search suggestions.
The suggested search terms led to sexualized material, including explicit videos of penetrative sex. The report's findings have sparked concerns about the platform's ability to protect its young users from adult content. "TikTok's algorithm is recommending porn to children," said a spokesperson for Global Witness. "This is unacceptable and highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in online platforms."
According to TikTok, it is committed to providing safe and age-appropriate experiences for its users. The company took immediate action once it became aware of the problem, but declined to comment further on the specifics of the report's findings.
The issue has raised questions about the effectiveness of social media companies' content moderation policies. "Social media platforms have a responsibility to protect their young users from harm," said Dr. Emma Short, a digital rights expert at the University of Oxford. "TikTok needs to do more to ensure that its algorithm is not recommending adult content to children."
The report's findings are particularly concerning given the popularity of TikTok among younger generations. According to recent statistics, over 50% of online teens aged 13-17 use the platform. The company has faced criticism in the past for its handling of child safety and data protection concerns.
In response to the report, TikTok has announced plans to review its content moderation policies and improve its algorithm to better protect young users. However, experts say that more needs to be done to address the issue. "This is not a one-time problem, but rather a symptom of a broader issue with social media companies' approach to child safety," said Dr. Short.
The incident has also raised questions about the role of human rights campaign groups in exposing online platforms' vulnerabilities. Global Witness's report highlights the importance of independent research and advocacy in holding companies accountable for their actions.
As the debate around TikTok's content moderation policies continues, one thing is clear: the company must do more to protect its young users from harm. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for greater transparency and accountability in online platforms, and the importance of human rights campaign groups in exposing and addressing these issues.
TikTok has yet to comment on the specifics of the report's findings or provide further details on its plans to address the issue. However, the company has stated that it is committed to providing a safe and age-appropriate experience for all its users.
This story was compiled from reports by BBC Technology and BBC Business.
