We’ve heard countless times about the danger of social media for youths. This is because social media sometimes portrays people in a certain way, ways that have been carefully edited and curated. This can lead some to have the wrong impression, which, in some cases, can be harmful. Now, it looks like TikTok is on the hook for a $100 million settlement with the state of Alabama over its platform’s safety and how it’s designed to keep children addicted.
TikTok agrees to a $100 million settlement in Alabama
According to a press release from the Attorney General’s office in Alabama, TikTok has agreed to pay a $100 million settlement. However, it isn’t stopping at $100 million. The press release notes that this could go up to $300 million if “certain conditions are met.” In addition to a financial payout, TikTok will also have to implement various safety features on its platform.
This includes imposing a two-hour daily limit with parental controls. It also must introduce “productive pauses,” which basically interrupts usage after 15 minutes of doomscrolling. It also needs to introduce a “nighttime access” feature. This restricts children’s access from 12AM to 6AM, along with messaging and push notifications during school hours.
TikTok is also expected to beef up its age assurance, meaning it needs to be better at verifying the ages of its younger users. The settlement will also require TikTok to introduce stronger content moderation provisions, which will also limit the discoverability of teen accounts by adults. It will also need to give parental notifications when suspicious interactions occur.
There will also be a blanket prohibition of cosmetic filters for teen users, a non-personalized feed, and more user-friendly parental controls.
Not TikTok’s first time
That being said, this isn’t the first time TikTok has faced child safety/addiction accusations before. A few years ago, TikTok was investigated by the EU over such concerns. While the company claims that it is safe, there are some who disagree. More recently, TikTok seemingly skipped out on a Congressional hearing to avoid answering child safety questions.
In the meantime, various countries around the world are implementing blanket social media bans for children and teens. However, only time will tell if these measures are actually effective.
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