Social media giant TikTok has unveiled a global Youth Council, its latest initiative aimed at improving user safety as the platform faces increasing scrutiny over its ability to protect younger users from harmful content and addictive algorithms.
The launch came alongside new research highlighting the desire of both teens and parents for more collaboration with online platforms regarding online safety, the platform said in a blog post on Monday (March 25).
The Youth Council, created in partnership with Praesidio Safeguarding, a specialist online safety agency, consists of 15 teenagers aged 15-18 from diverse backgrounds and countries including the US, UK, Brazil, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, and Morocco. The council has already held two meetings, with the most recent one attended by TikTok CEO Shou Chew.
“I was thrilled and very grateful to be appointed to TikTok’s global Youth Council. It’s an incredible honor and extremely unique opportunity to contribute to shaping the TikTok community on a global scale,” an unnamed Youth Council teen aged 15 from the US was quoted by TikTok as saying.
“One of my primary goals is to advocate for the interests and concerns of young creators. I hope to actively contribute to discussions to promote inclusivity, creativity, and a positive environment.”
“Although most parents seem to be comfortable discussing issues related to their teens’ online behavior, a significant minority of parents say they are ‘not knowledgeable enough’ to have these discussions, reinforcing the need for further parent education.”
Larry Magid, ConnectSafely
TikTok says the council’s primary focus for 2024 is on ensuring a safe and inclusive space for young people on the platform. They’ve already begun contributing by providing feedback on the redesigned Youth Portal and requesting more transparency on the reporting and blocking processes.
Global research conducted by YouGov in partnership with ConnectSafely surveyed over 12,000 teens and parents to understand online safety conversations within families. The study revealed that while a majority discuss online safety at least weekly, just over two fifths, or 43%, of US teens avoid certain conversations, particularly regarding bullying and body image.
Larry Magid, CEO of ConnectSafely, said: “Although most parents seem to be comfortable discussing issues related to their teens’ online behavior, a significant minority of parents say they are ‘not knowledgeable enough’ to have these discussions, reinforcing the need for further parent education.”
Interestingly, the research also showed that US families are the most active users of parental controls compared to other surveyed countries. However, a fifth of US parents expressed a desire for improved guidance on using these tools. Encouragingly, discussions around AI-generated content were found to be the most comfortable topic for both teens and parents.
“TikTok is a platform where families come to create and enjoy memorable moments, and we want to ensure we’re empowering families with the tools to do this.”
Suzy Loftus, USDS Trust & Safety
“TikTok is a platform where families come to create and enjoy memorable moments, and we want to ensure we’re empowering families with the tools to do this. Listening to teens and then making meaningful changes based on what they have to say is one of the most important steps we can take to continue building a safe platform,” said Suzy Loftus, Head of USDS Trust & Safety.
The move is a calculated one for TikTok. The platform boasts a massive user base, with a significant portion falling under the 18-age demographic. However, many industry bodies and governments have highlighted potential issues like exposure to inappropriate content, and the addictive nature of the app’s endless scroll.
Last month, the European Union opened formal proceedings against TikTok under the recently implemented Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on the platform’s protection of minors, and risk management of addictive design and harmful content, among others. The confirmation follows earlier reports that TikTok potentially faces hefty fines in Europe over child safety concerns.
Under the DSA, companies that are found to have breached the DSA are subject to fines of up to 6% of their global turnover. A 6% fine could translate to roughly $564 million for TikTok, Bloomberg reported in February.
In the UK, TikTok was fined £12.7 million ($16 million) last year over a number of data protection breaches including ‘misusing children’s data,’ while in Ireland, the company was slapped with a €345 million ($374 million) fine for violating regulations on children’s privacy.
Prior to launching its Youth Council, the platform has an Advisory Council formed in 2020 and offers in-app safety tips based on teen feedback.
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