🔗 Share this article

Per findings from a recent investigation, TikTok has been observed to direct profiles of minors to pornographic content in just a couple of steps.

Testing Approach

A campaign organization established simulated profiles using a 13-year-old's birth date and enabled the "restricted mode" setting, which is meant to reduce exposure to inappropriate content.

Study authors observed that TikTok recommended sexually charged search terms to multiple test profiles that were established on unused smartphones with no search history.

Troubling Search Prompts

Search phrases recommended under the "suggested searches" feature contained "provocative attire" and "very rude babes" – and then progressed to phrases such as "hardcore pawn [sic] clips".

In three cases of the accounts, the sexualized searches were recommended right away.

Fast Track to Adult Material

Within minimal interaction, the study team came across pornographic content ranging from revealing content to graphic sexual acts.

Global Witness reported that the content tried to bypass filters, often by displaying the video within an innocuous picture or video.

In one instance, the process took two taps after accessing the app: one click on the search feature and then one on the proposed query.

Compliance Requirements

The climate organization, whose scope includes investigating big tech's impact on human rights, stated it carried out multiple testing phases.

Initial tests occurred prior to the activation of safeguarding regulations under the British online safety legislation on 25 July, and a second set subsequent to the regulations took effect.

Serious Findings

Researchers added that two videos showed someone who looked like they were under 16 years old and had been sent to the Internet Watch Foundation, which oversees online child sexual abuse material.

The campaign group claimed that TikTok was in violation of the Online Safety Act, which mandates tech companies to prevent children from encountering harmful content such as explicit content.

Regulatory Response

A spokesperson for Britain's media watchdog, which is responsible for overseeing the act, stated: "We value the research behind this investigation and will examine its findings."

The regulator's guidelines for adhering to the legislation specify that digital platforms that pose a substantial threat of displaying dangerous material must "adjust their systems to block inappropriate videos from children's feeds.

TikTok's content guidelines forbid adult videos.

Company Reaction

The social media company announced that after being contacted from the organization, it had removed the offending videos and implemented adjustments to its suggestion feature.

"As soon as we were made aware of these claims, we responded quickly to examine the issue, take down videos that breached our guidelines, and launch improvements to our recommendation system," commented a spokesperson.