TikTok: How the App is Regulating Content

⚠️TW: Mention of dieting and disordered eating⚠️ Say goodbye to “What I eat in a day!” - TikTok bans content which promotes disordered eating.

• Last week, TikTok announced they would be regulating content to promote the “security, safety and well-being” of users. The shift includes a ban on disordered eating content.
• The app already removes content which explicitly promotes eating disorders. TikTok’s Head of trust and safety Cormac Keenan explains that it is now taking a step to “broaden its approach” in the area.
• Yet, TikTok has failed to remove content which promotes caloric restrictions, harmful fasts, cleansing or overexercising all of which can be dangerous but falls under the disguise of “wellness”.
• Removing all content that falls within this category will be a challenge. However, for a handful of TikTok’s billion users, 25% of whom are younger than 20, it may improve their safety online.
• Some experts have criticized TikTok’s failure to separate the announcement on eating disordered content ban, from their tackling of hate speech - which involves a ban on deadnaming and misgendering.
• It has been suggested that lumping the two announcements together could lead to the stigmatization of eating disorders. The moderation of this content should be extremely sensitive.