TikTok has become the preferred social network for over a billion users, catching the attention of 14 U.S. attorneys general who are suing the company for its negative impact on minors’ mental health and data harvesting practices. Recent reports indicate that the company’s own research supports these claims.
As a response, TikTok has announced a plan to restrict certain effects for users under 18, specifically those that alter appearance. This move aims to address criticisms over how younger users are affected by such filters, particularly beauty filters that change a person’s look artificially.
TikTok, owned by the $300 billion tech giant Bytedane, allows individuals over 13 to register as users, as per its terms of service. Users aged 13-18 may have specific settings and defaults in place. Despite the company’s efforts to enforce these age restrictions, regulators have raised concerns about their effectiveness.
TikTok has stated that these changes will be implemented “in the coming weeks” worldwide.
