Social networks are generally singled out and accused of all evils. This is particularly true for the ByteDance platform. Indeed, TikTok is regularly blamed for its disastrous effect on its users. Especially the youngest.
Recently, the parent company of TikTok was accused of knowingly designing an addictive application, to the detriment of the mental health of young people. After taking several steps, it seems that ByteDance has finally decided to act. Under pressure from regulators, TikTok announced that its beauty filters would soon no longer be accessible to minors.
Goodbye, beauty filters that transform reality
On TikTok, there are a slew of filters. Some are funny, others allow you to modify, more or less strongly, the appearance and remove faults and other imperfections. The problem is that these beauty filters can have a negative impact on the well-being of adolescents. Indeed, they distort the vision of the most vulnerable users. We know to what extent adolescence is an unattractive period and the democratization of these filters can create even more complexes for young users.
Thus, TikTok has chosen to fight against the harmful effects of its beauty filters and, thus, preserve the mental health of its European users. Thus, the social network has developed a system that allows beauty filters to be categorized according to the age of users.
However, these filters will still be available for adults and minors may come across videos of adult users using them. This could well create frustration, but TikTok believes that these “guardrails are necessary”. However, the social network will add an essential description: “the effects of the filter are not intended to change your opinion of yourself. We encourage you to appreciate the uniqueness of your beauty”.
In the process, TikTok announced the establishment of a prevention system against suicide, eating disorders and even harassment. The social network will thus automatically redirect users who watch videos on these subjects to association sites which inform and warn. A test was carried out in France and it seems to have been successful.
At the beginning of the month, French parents filed a legal action unprecedented in Europe, pointing out the devastating effect of the social network on children.
