Up to 1.4 million children under the age of 13 have been allowed access to TikTok, according to the Information Commissioner's Office, which accused the Chinese firm of failing to adequately prevent underage users. The watchdog's findings have raised serious concerns about the platform's handling of children's data and exposure to harmful content.
Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) suggests that TikTok's algorithm can push self-harm content to new users within two and a half minutes of account creation, and eating disorder content within eight minutes. Imran Ahmed, CEO of CCDH, said the algorithm 'recognises vulnerability' and exploits it to maximise time on the platform, describing it as 'the crack cocaine of social media'.
The investigation also found that changing a user's name from 'Sarah' to 'Sarah Lose Weight' resulted in 12 times more self-harm content being served. For a 14-year-old boy, content from misogynist influencer Andrew Tate could appear in under three minutes. Ahmed warned that such content gives children 'a distorted view of themselves, their bodies, and their mental health'.
The Information Commissioner stated that over 1 million underage children may have had their personal data collected and used for tracking and profiling, potentially delivering harmful content. A TikTok spokesperson defended the platform, saying it aims to support those struggling with mental health and removes content that violates its guidelines against promoting eating disorders, suicide, or self-harm.
Ahmed noted that TikTok is not alone in this issue, describing a 'arms race' among social media platforms to keep users engaged, often at the expense of safety. The CCDH's research, based on 13-year-old users in the UK, US, Canada, and Australia, highlights the urgent need for stronger protections for children online.
