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Culture TikTok plans to prohibit beauty filters for users under 18 due to mental health concerns.
The social media platform has also announced that it will enhance its systems to prevent users under the age of 13 from accessing the site.
In an effort to address concerns about the effects of these filters on mental health. The popular social media platform TikTok is planning to impose restrictions on teenagers using beauty filters that alter their appearance.
The Guardian reports that, in the near future, users under 18 will be prohibited from artificially enhancing their eye size, lip fullness. Altering their skin tone.
The publication will enforce restrictions on filters like “Bold Glamour,” which modify individuals’ features in ways that makeup cannot achieve. However, the publication states that comic filters, such as those that incorporate bunny ears or dog noses, will remain unaffected.
The decision follows significant concern regarding the impact of beauty filters on young users, particularly girls. Who may feel compelled to meet unrealistic beauty standards. Not presenting a filtered version of oneself can negatively affect teenagers’ mental health.
TikTok has released a statement indicating that they have commissioned a report from Internet Matters. A UK-based not-for-profit organization, to explore how online platforms influence the identities and relationships of teenagers.
“The final report, ‘Unfiltered: The Role of Authenticity, Belonging, and Connection,’. revealed new insights regarding teenagers’ use of effects and how this influences their sense of self.” The report clearly distinguished between effects intended to be noticeable and humorous. Such as animal ear effects, and those intended to alter your appearance. Parents and teens have expressed concerns about the effects on ‘appearance,’ especially the possibility that viewers might not recognize the modified content.
Furthermore, the platform will offer additional details on how an effect could alter a user’s appearance when applied. “This is in addition to already informing users when specific effects have been applied to content.”
TikTok will update resources for individuals creating filters to improve awareness and understanding of the potential unintended effects that some filters might have.
“By promoting a culture of authenticity, respect, and support, we can build a digital environment. Where everyone feels empowered to express their true selves.”
TikTok has announced that it will be enhancing its systems to prevent users under the age of 13 from accessing the platform. The Guardian reports that before the year ends, TikTok will launch a trial of new automated systems. That use machine learning to identify individuals who circumvent age restrictions.
The platform reported that it removes six million accounts worldwide each month due to non-compliance with the minimum age requirement.
It explained that it was looking into how new machine learning technology could improve efforts to keep individuals under 13 off the platform.
This technology will assist in identifying accounts that might belong to individuals under the age of 13. Which allows a specially trained moderator to review the account and remove it if they determine that the user does not meet our minimum age requirement.
Those who think TikTok made a mistake can appeal.
Interestingly, I came across information online indicating that a certain country has prohibited social media access. For individuals under 18, possibly during school hours. More countries seem to be receptive to similar approaches to address the fixation on the internet and social media.
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