TikTok was aware of risks kids and teens face on its platform, legal document alleges
Associated PressSEP 28 2024
TikTok to Implement Age Restrictions on Beauty Filters
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Image copyright: Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
Image copyright: Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
TikTok has cultivated a digital ecosystem that preys on the vulnerabilities of its youngest users. Its addictive algorithm traps teens in polarized echo chambers. Harmful beauty norms are amplified, damaging children's self-esteem, while underage users face exploitation through live-streaming features. TikTok's true priority remains maximizing engagement rather than user well-being.
Narrative B
Blaming TikTok for teenagers' mental health challenges overlooks broader societal dynamics while unfairly targeting a single platform. Social media, including TikTok, mirrors existing societal discontent and amplifies public sentiment, but it does not operate in a vacuum. Politicians' fixation on TikTok deflects attention from systemic issues. This scapegoating distracts from meaningful oversight and regulation that could address the broader challenges of digital spaces.