TikTok’s algorithm is pushing out extremist and violent content to 13-year-olds – By Areeba Shah (Salon) / Mar 25 2023
“There is this kind of an opportunity for those incel manosphere influencers to tap into, to young boys especially”
TikTok’s algorithm is flooding teens with extremist content, including videos explicitly promoting suicide and violence, according to new research by corporate accountability group Ekō.
Even low-level engagement with harmful content for 10 minutes can lead to accounts encountering videos that promote suicide and violence, the report found. Oftentimes such content can influence users to take action, which can result in real-world violence.
Ekō set up nine different accounts listing the ages as 13 years old, which is the youngest age users can join the platform. After engaging with videos either promoting or suggesting suicide, the accounts’ For You Pages surfaced videos of guns being loaded and text suggesting suicide.
“Toxic algorithms force users down a deadly spiral and keep them there by feeding them harmful content,” said Ekō campaigner Maen Hammad. “This is especially concerning when we think about kids, who require important safeguards while navigating an online life. Even more alarming is how easy it is for kids to fall into this spiral.”
