Kids on TikTok find the sunny app has a dark side


Highly personalised recommendations, driven by algorithms owned by the parent company ByteDance Ltd, often make it harder for parents to track what their children are seeing and for regulators to monitor what kids are being exposed to on the app. — AFP Relaxnews

TikTok is known primarily as a launchpad for funny memes, dance routines and lip-synching videos. The company embraces that reputation with a tagline, “the last sunny corner on the Internet”. But there’s a dark side to TikTok that engulfs some of the app’s youngest users.

Beneath the surface, TikTok also hosts videos promoting anorexia, bullying, suicide and sexual exploitation of minors. Highly personalised recommendations, driven by algorithms owned by the parent company ByteDance Ltd, often make it harder for parents to track what their children are seeing and for regulators to monitor what kids are being exposed to on the app.

Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Starlink experiencing degraded service, Musk says satellites under pressure
Learn programming in space in free app ‘Rabbids Coding!’ (PC/mobile)
Bluetooth for two: How to play music on two sets of headphones
Role-play with your friends as influencers dying to go viral
Cosplay: Where innovation meets imagination
Microsoft hit with $242 million US verdict in Cortana patent lawsuit
After layoffs, Musk says Tesla to spend $500 million on charging network
Binance registers with India's financial watchdog as it seeks to resume operations
FBI working towards nabbing Scattered Spider hackers, official says
Crypto group with 440,000 members launches PAC to target House, Senate elections

Others Also Read