TikTok is a social media platform where users create, share, and discover short videos, typically lasting from 15 seconds to a few minutes. The content spans various genres, including comedy, dance, lip-syncing, tutorials, and challenges. Developed in 2016 by ByteDance, a global tech company based in China, TikTok has become the world’s most downloaded app, boasting over 1 billion users worldwide. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at the app and explore the factors behind its immense popularity as well as its potential dangers.
Minimum Age Restriction Issues
TikTok is officially available for users aged 13 years and older. Any users aged 13 to 15 have their accounts set to private by default, which prevents private messaging and limits comments to friends only.
Parents can now gain greater control over their teenagers’ TikTok accounts with the new ‘Family Pairing’ feature. This allows parents to link their accounts with their teen’s, enabling them to set restrictions and guidelines for a safer, more responsible use of the platform.
Some of the key features include:
Screen Time Management: Parents can set daily screen time limits for their child’s TikTok usage.
Restricted Mode: Limits exposure to potentially inappropriate or harmful content by filtering it out.
Direct Message Control: Parents can decide who can send direct messages to their child or even disable direct messaging altogether.
Search Restrictions: Parents can limit who can see their child’s account and what they can search for, including hashtags, sounds, and videos.
In a recent statement, a TikTok spokesperson emphasised, “We invest heavily to help keep under-13s off the platform, and our 40,000-strong safety team works around the clock to help keep the platform safe for our community.” However, age verification is not required so younger children can easily access the app by entering a fake birthdate. As a result, up to 1.4 million children under the age of 13 are using the app. To address this issue, TikTok is now utilising more signals beyond a user’s self-declared age to determine their true age.
App Design Concerns
The platform has two feeds: The ‘For You Page’ (FYP) and ‘Following’ page. The FYP is the first page you see when you open the app. It’s a personalised feed featuring content from creators you may not follow, but TikTok’s algorithm suggests based on your interests and previous interactions. The ‘Following’ page only includes videos by creators you follow. Although experts agree that the key to success is its unique algorithm, recent studies have shown it carries potentials risks.
‘Infinite Scrolling’
The concept of ‘infinite scroll’ was developed in 2006 by Aza Raskin to overcome the challenges of pagination, allowing users to browse content seamlessly without interruption. While Raskin’s goal was to improve user experience, this design unintentionally taps into a natural human tendency—the desire to complete tasks. With no clear endpoint, users are often left unsatisfied, leading them to continue scrolling. This design has contributed significantly to mobile phone addiction. TikTok’s FYP is a prime example of this ‘infinite scrolling’ phenomenon. Its continuous stream of short-form content is designed to capture attention within a few seconds, creating a sense of urgency.
The brief nature of the videos makes it easy for users to keep watching and scrolling, as each video requires little time commitment but offers instant gratification. A recent study on the addictive features of social media found that TikTok’s simple interface, with a limited number of buttons and sections, makes it even easier for users to get immersed in the scrolling experience. In response to concerns about screen time and addiction, TikTok has introduced ‘routine reminders’ that notify users of their screen time, particularly encouraging teenagers to limit their usage if it exceeds 100 minutes per day.
Mental Health Problems
As teens spend more time online, cyberbullying has become a significant concern. Recent estimates suggest that users under 18 have a 64% chance of encountering cyberbullying on TikTok, with hateful comments being the most common form. This issue is having a profound impact on mental health, as two-thirds of cyberbullying victims report that online abuse has harmed their self-esteem, often leading to feelings of insecurity and low self-worth. In response to growing concerns about online abuse, TikTok has introduced a new feature called ‘Filter All Comments.’ This tool gives users more control over their content by allowing them to review, approve, or delete comments before they are made public on their videos.
Where is TikTok Banned?
Despite being developed in China, the app is banned within the country. Instead, China has its own version called Douyin, which is regulated by the Chinese Communist Party and available only in China. In the United States, at least 37 states have taken some form of action against the app since 2020. TikTok is also banned in India—one of its largest markets—along with Iran, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Somalia. In 2023, the UK government and Parliament banned the app from staff work devices, as did the European Commission.
Learn more about our charity campaign, ‘Someone to Talk To.’ We offer free one-on-one therapy sessions to support children who may be struggling with their mental health.
References
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/05/business/media/tiktok-algorithm.html
https://www.isdglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/HateScape_v5.pdf
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/apr/04/tiktok-fined-uk-data-protection-law-breaches
https://support.tiktok.com/en/account-and-privacy/account-privacy-settings/privacy-and-safety-settings-for-users-under-age-18
https://www.healthyyoungminds.com/is-tik-tok-safe-for-kids/
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/14/2612
https://freedom.to/blog/infinite-scroll/
https://safeguarding.thekeysupport.com/parent-online-safety-zone/child-safety-tiktok-factsheet/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/interactive/2022/tiktok-popularity/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-53476117#:~:text=TikTok%20is%20already%20banned%20in,as%20has%20the%20European%20Commission.
