TikTok has announced major measures to protect the mental health of its teenage users, following concerns about the impact of beauty filters on them.
In the coming weeks, the platform will introduce age restrictions on certain appearance-altering filters, banning their use by those under 18.
What changes are we talking about?
The new restrictions will apply to filters that smooth the skin, thin the face or enlarge the eyes, as is the case with the popular “Bold Glamour”.
On the other hand, filters that add animal ears or other funny elements will not be affected.
These changes aim to reduce the negative effects of beauty filters on the self-esteem of teenagers, especially girls, who face increased pressure to adopt a “perfect” image online.
The announcement was made at the European Security Forum organized by TikTok in Dublin.
Other measures for user safety
TikTok doesn’t just stop at restricting filters.
The platform wants to improve the method of verifying the age of users, using machine learning technologies to detect accounts created by those under 13, the minimum age allowed.
Every year, TikTok says it deletes about six million accounts globally that don’t meet that age limit.
The company will also launch new resources in 13 European countries, connecting users who report content related to suicide, self-harm, hate or bullying to local helplines.
Pressure from critics
The measures come amid stepped-up regulations in Europe and the UK, which impose stricter standards to protect young users on social platforms.
The Digital Markets Act and Online Safety Act impose significant fines on companies that do not comply.
In addition, critics such as the UK’s NSPCC point out that the new restrictions are only the “tip of the iceberg” and call for more measures for safe and age-appropriate online experiences.
This initiative is currently focused only on Europe. It comes after a report by the organization Internet Matters, which highlighted that such filters contribute to the normalization of unrealistic images and exert social pressure on young people.
Source: Technext
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