Is TikTok Targeting Teenagers With Harmful Content?

TikTok has come under fire.

It started with legislation that passed through the Senate recently regarding data collection from the Chinese-owned app, prohibiting usage on government devices.

Now, researchers discovered that TikTok feeds harmful content on a regular basis, depending on your interests and which channels you use. The report suggests that the app sends harmful content every 39 seconds to impressionable users.

Because of how the algorithm works, another report mentioned how TikTok is a nightmare for parents trying to stay involved with their kids. The app could be detrimental to the mental and physical health of teenagers.

I wrote about the TikTok algorithm in a positive light not long ago, that it’s incredibly efficient at monitoring what we like and feeding us content the app thinks we want to consume. TikTok is growing because of that algorithm.

However, the best feature of TikTok is also the most harmful.

If you consume content that’s bad for you, then the algorithm will continue feeding those videos on a regular basis. It’s a perpetual machine that wants you to keep consuming content as long as possible, regardless of whether that content is enriching or harmful.

There’s no way around this, unless you subscribe to channels, stick to more mainstream content like explainer videos or comedy bits, and avoid watching harmful content. TikTok reps claims they police the app and block content for some users, but it’s mostly a free-for-all.

That policing is not easy, by the way. You could make the case that the app has way too many underage users doing inappropriate things. One report about Jenny Popach talks about sexually suggestive videos. The default on TikTok is — sketchy clips get the most traffic.

Unfortunately, this problem is not going to be easy to resolve.

TikTok is going to be under constant scrutiny, both for how it collects data and how it tends to feed harmful content.

As we’ve learned from other apps and services like YouTube, while there are millions of worthwhile videos on TikTok, the inappropriate videos are the ones that get all of the attention and raise concerns. Helpful how-to videos, motivational talks, product promos, and even the funny short-form clips don’t get as much traction, and that’s disappointing.

For everyday users, we can only sit back and watch this unfold. The truth is, everything you can see on TikTok is probably on YouTube or other apps.

If you are trying to find inappropriate content, you will find it. Every app can be used for worthwhile purposes or harmful purposes.

From an innovation standpoint, the downside to all of this is that developers will lose some motivation. Popularity breeds criticism.

TikTok is incredibly popular, and the only real solution is for everyday users to become much more active, to create content that has some value, and for influencers to draw attention because they make rewarding videos.

Hopefully, TikTok sticks around for the right reasons.