TikTok to block teenagers from beauty filters over mental health concerns
Guardian1 day
TikTok to Implement Age Restrictions on Beauty Filters
Above:
Image copyright: Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
Image copyright: Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Social media giant TikTok will, over the next few weeks, ban those aged under 18 from using certain filters that alter users' facial features.
Features that will be banned, like 'Bold Glamour,' make users' eyes appear larger, enhances lips, and alters skin tone and texture.
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.
