TikTok was aware that teenagers were getting addicted and more

Social media addiction is one of the most common problems in the world today. Millions of people can spend hours and hours scrolling through traditional social platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, or video platforms, such as TikTok. That said, a report claims that TikTok was aware that its teenage users were becoming addicted and the potential consequences.

TikTok has been in the crosshairs of US authorities for some time. The app’s Chinese origin raises mistrust among government officials. The company is currently trying to appeal the executive order that forces it to sell its North American division or stop operating in the country.

TikTok’s internal research reveals negative consequences for addicted users

US authorities have cited data security and the platform’s negative effects on young people as reasons for their crusade against TikTok. An internal investigation by TikTok itself in 2019 provides a clear summary of the collateral damage of app addiction. The report paints a bigger picture of what young TikTok users might be exposed to.

NPR obtained unreported documents from a case against TikTok in Kentucky. The lawsuit, filed by the Kentucky Attorney General’s Office, claims that TikTok is “specifically designed to be an addiction machine, targeting children who are still in the process of developing adequate self-control.” This should come as no surprise to anyone, as social platforms aim to retain users for extended periods.

However, the report also includes results from TikTok’s internal research into the negative effects of using the platform. “Compulsive use is correlated with a host of negative mental health effects such as loss of analytical skills, memory formation, contextual thinking, conversational depth, empathy and increased anxiety.,” the lawsuit says.

Filter bubbles pose mental health hazards

Also, TikTok was aware that the younger audience is more susceptible to becoming addicted. “In most engagement metrics, the younger the user, the better the performance,” says TikTok research. Although TikTok has a tool to limit the use of the app, it doesn’t seem to be working properly. In theory, the tool should limit platform usage to 60 minutes per day. However, research results show that users spent around 107 minutes even with the tool enabled.

“Filter bubbles” represent another potential problem. This is how TikTok’s algorithm determines your preferences and sends you content that fits your specific profile. The results found that the platform could link young users to content that threatens mental health. This includes filter bubbles for painful (“painhub”) and sad (“sad notes”) videos. According to research, TikTok only takes 30 minutes of usage into account to set a user in a filter bubble.

Another macabre discovery reveals cases of underage girls receiving gifts or coins as a “reward” for performing actions during live broadcasts. Malicious actors would have taken advantage of this to get the girls to undress. Many would even DM underage girls’ accounts for this purpose.

Things have changed since 2019, says TikTok

As we said at the beginning, TikTok’s internal investigation dates back to 2019. So things may have changed quite a bit since then. Alex Haurek, a spokesperson for TikTok, says some of the lawsuit’s allegations are “outdated.” According to Haurek, TikTok has implemented “strong safeguards, including proactive removal of suspected underage users.” It also claims that the platform has “voluntarily released safety features such as default screen time limits, family pairing and default privacy for under 16s.“