TikTok to restrict beauty filters for users under 18; spends €2bn on platform’s moderation

Popular video sharing platform, TikTok, has disclosed it will start restricting users under the age of 18 from using some beauty filters.

This is as the company announced it has spent nearly €2bn globally to ensure its platform is safe for all users, especially teens.

A press release by TikTok on Wednesday noted it removed “around 6 million accounts globally because we believe that our minimum age requirement has not been met”.

A report conducted by Internet Matters on behalf of TikTok identified new insights about teens’ use of effects and the impact this has on their sense of self.

The report titled: “Unfiltered: The Role of Authenticity, Belonging and Connection” offered a clear distinction between effects designed to be obvious and funny (e.g. animal ear effects) and effects designed to alter your appearance.

Specifically, teens and parents raised concerns about ‘appearance’ effects, including that those viewing the content might not realise it had been altered.

In response to the insights, TikTok announced three major changes which is expected to take effect in coming weeks:

• Age restricted effects: restricting the use of some appearance effects for teens under 18
• More information: providing more information about how an effect might change their appearance if applied. This is in addition to already proactively letting users know when certain effects have been used on content
• Creator guidance: refreshing resources for people developing effects for TikTok Effects House to enhance awareness and understanding of some of the unintended outcomes that certain effects may pose