July 16, 2022, 5:36 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Few apps have been as hyped in recent years as TikTok. However, not all videos on the platform are suitable for all users. Therefore, TikTok is introducing two new tools to influence the content displayed.
TikTok currently has over a billion users worldwide. The success of the video service is undeniable. Users of all kinds upload short clips on a wide range of topics. However, not all of them are suitable or desirable to watch. For this reason, TikTok is introducing new features such as an age restriction to improve control over unwanted and inappropriate content. In the coming weeks, the service will also roll out the ability to blacklist specific words or hashtags. The company has now announced this.
As a result, videos tagged with these hashtags will no longer appear on the app’s homepage (“For You”) and in the “Following” feed. While videos can already be marked as “Not Interested,” this only results in skipping other videos created by the same user.
Read also: What is TikTok? The app explained simply
TikTok Plans Age Restriction
Another upcoming feature is the age restriction on TikTok: A new system will classify content based on its suitability for a younger audience. If a video contains “adult or complex themes” or “fictional scenes that might be too frightening or intense for a younger audience,” young people will not be able to view the content. TikTok’s age restriction blocks posts for those under 18.
Young TikTok users will then only see the message: “Post not available. This post has an age restriction.” According to TikTok, the age restriction is not yet fully developed but is expected to launch as a “first version” in the coming weeks.
When signing up for TikTok, users must provide their birthdate. The minimum age for use is 13 years. If parents install the app on their smartphone, they can activate a mode to accompany their child on TikTok.
Source
- TikTok
- With material from dpa