From last week: More than a dozen states sue TikTok, alleging it harms kids and is designed to addict them
Kids as young as 15 were stripping on TikTok’s live feature fueled by adults who were paying for it.
That’s what TikTok learned when it launched an internal investigation after a report on Forbes. Officials at TikTok discovered that there was “a high” number of underage streamers receiving a “gift” or “coin” in exchange for stripping — real money converted into a digital currency often in the form of a plush toy or a flower.
This is one of several disturbing accounts that came to light in a trove of secret documents reviewed last week by NPR and Kentucky Public Radio. Even more troubling was that TikTok executives were acutely aware of the potential harm the app can cause teens, but appeared unconcerned.
The information came after a more than two-year investigation into TikTok by 14 attorneys general that led to state officials suing the company on Tuesday.
Here are a few more of the most serious, and previously unreported, allegations against TikTok, the wildly popular app that is used by around 170 million people in the U.S.
I feel like this happens with so many popular "platforms" and social media sites. It starts off kind of small, eventually gets huge and people find ways to abuse others on the platform and then...
I feel like this happens with so many popular "platforms" and social media sites. It starts off kind of small, eventually gets huge and people find ways to abuse others on the platform and then some external investigation kicks off a firestorm of interal review.
Kinda like when people found out terrorists groups were greenlit for ad revenue on YouTube. It really makes me doubt any of these companies have any serious or useful internal auditing or moderation units.
That 95% under 17 number is bonkers. Is there anything else in that world with such a deep market penetration with their target audience? The 5% is likely cellphone absolutist parents. Not even...
That 95% under 17 number is bonkers. Is there anything else in that world with such a deep market penetration with their target audience? The 5% is likely cellphone absolutist parents. Not even Meta can boast those numbers.
See also: How TikTok Live Became ‘A Strip Club Filled With 15-Year-Olds’. I am beyond relieved that I don't permit my daughter to have any social media on her phone. Jesus fuck.
From last week: More than a dozen states sue TikTok, alleging it harms kids and is designed to addict them
I feel like this happens with so many popular "platforms" and social media sites. It starts off kind of small, eventually gets huge and people find ways to abuse others on the platform and then some external investigation kicks off a firestorm of interal review.
Kinda like when people found out terrorists groups were greenlit for ad revenue on YouTube. It really makes me doubt any of these companies have any serious or useful internal auditing or moderation units.
That 95% under 17 number is bonkers. Is there anything else in that world with such a deep market penetration with their target audience? The 5% is likely cellphone absolutist parents. Not even Meta can boast those numbers.
I would be amazed if there is a single thing on this planet that doesn't prioritize attractive people - that's kind of just how it works.
Well, according to the article, it was not how it worked, until it was intentionally changed.
See also: How TikTok Live Became ‘A Strip Club Filled With 15-Year-Olds’.
I am beyond relieved that I don't permit my daughter to have any social media on her phone. Jesus fuck.
How old was your daughter when you allowed her to have a phone? Was it a smartphone? Asking as the parent of two elementary school-age kids.