In the last decade social networks have gone from simple dog lenses to over the top beauty filters. The latter is the basis of a new action from TikTok – the company is being banned in 14 states of the US for affecting the mental health of young people. TikTok is now taking steps to limit youth access to these changing trends, with the platform announcing new restrictions on Tuesday which filters will be available to users under the age of 18.
TikTok is restricting anyone of this age from using “other forms of expression,” a vague promise that the measure will determine whether it’s really helping young people or just making a TikTok image. The company also plans to add information on how much each filter should have to change the person’s appearance. In addition, TikTok “refreshes” its guidance for developers in the TikTok Effects House around the effects of other filters – again unclear, so we will have to see if it is just talk or really useful.
Then there is the issue of tracking and blocking users under the age of 13. The company says it deactivates 6 million accounts worldwide each month for users it estimates are small. Now, TikTok is also “exploring” how to use machine learning technology to identify accounts run by people under the age of 13 and then send them to moderators for confirmation. A TikTok spokesperson confirmed to Engadget that the company will start testing this in the UK, while filter restrictions and guidelines should roll out around the world in the coming weeks and months.