TikTok is increasing fines for producers who post potentially “problematic” content and limiting its guidelines for what can be suggested on the app. The upgrades come as TikTok fights for its survival in the United States, attempting to persuade politicians and regulators that its app is safe for teenagers.
TikTok’s amended community guidelines, which go into effect in May, include a large list of content that is not suitable for recommendation in the app’s prized “For You” feed. The list contains some obvious categories, such as sexually provocative or violent content, but it also covers topics that have previously sparked controversy on the app. For example, the new guidelines restrict movies feature “dangerous activity and challenges,” as well as a variety of weight reduction or dieting content. It also forbids any footage submitted by users under the age of 16 from appearing in “For You.”
There’s also a lengthy section dedicated to a wide range of misinformation and conspiratorial content. From the guidelines:
-Conspiracy theories that are unfounded and claim that certain events or situations are carried out by covert or powerful groups, such as “the government” or a “secret society”
-Moderate harm health misinformation, such as an unproven recommendation for how to treat a minor illness
-Repurposed media, such as showing a crowd at a music concert and suggesting it is a political protest
-Misrepresenting authoritative sources, such as selectively referencing certain scientific data to support a conclusion that is counter to the findings of the study
-Unverified claims related to an emergency or unfolding event
-Potential high-harm misinformation while it is undergoing a fact-checking review
In addition to the eligibility changes, TikTok says it will also begin to penalize creators who repeatedly disregard this guidance by making their entire account ineligible for recommendations, not just the specific offending posts. The company will also make their account “harder to find” in search.
Additionally, the app is getting a new “account status” feature, which will help users track if they are running afoul of these rules. Much like the feature of the same name in Instagram, TikTok’s account status will alert creators to strikes on their account and posts that run afoul of the app’s rules. And an “account check” feature will allow users to track if they are currently being blocked from recommendations or otherwise unable to access features like messaging or commenting as a result of breaking the app’s rules.
