Report: TikTok boosts posts about eating disorders, suicide

New research finds that TikTok’s powerful algorithms are promoting videos about self harm and eating disorders to teens. The findings come from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, which created TikTok accounts for fictitious young people living in the US, Britain, Canada and Australia. — AP

TikTok’s algorithms are promoting videos about self-harm and eating disorders to vulnerable teens, according to a report published Dec 14 that highlights concerns about social media and its impact on youth mental health.

Researchers at the nonprofit Centre for Countering Digital Hate created TikTok accounts for fictional teen personas in the US, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. The researchers operating the accounts then “liked” videos about self-harm and eating disorders to see how TikTok’s algorithm would respond.