TikTok has rolled out new trust and safety features and policies, aiming to provide a more secure and healthier experience on its platform for users, including teens, families and creators.
The new updates, announced on Wednesday, focus on stronger protections for young people and safeguards and support for creators, as well as improving community well-being and strengthening information integrity.
On top of its built-in safeguards over 50 different features and settings, the platform has enhanced its Family Pairing features that allow caregivers to link their account to their teen’s and tailor a range of settings.
With the latest update, it now allows caregivers to receive automatic notifications when their teens upload a video, story or photo, while having greater access to the child’s settings, including for privacy, downloaded and interested content and their following list.
“Everything that we do starts with safety. And when people feel safe, they can be open. They can be creative … And that kind of safety doesn’t happen by accident. It takes consistent work,” Adam Presser, TikTok head of operations and Trust & Safety said during a briefing via Zoom.
The platform has also strengthened protections for creators, launching new features, including Creator Care Mode that helps creators better filter out inappropriate, offensive or unwanted comments. The mute feature blocks specific words, phrases and emojis during live broadcasts, and the Content Check Lite feature lets creators precheck whether their content is likely to show up in the users’ personalized feed.
Creator Inbox helps them manage messages more efficiently, while Creator Chat Room allows creators to connect and interact directly with followers on the platform.
“We know that great content starts with great creators. They fuel discovery, spark engagement and are at the heart of communities. When people feel safe … they can push their creative boundaries and unlock their potential. In short, they can be their authentic self. And that’s why we focus on building features and tools that they can use,” Presser said.
TikTok is also introducing Well-being Missions, a series of short missions designed to help people develop balanced digital habits. It is also testing a new in-app feature to encourage digital well-being, which will offer various support tools and activities.
Presser said trust and safety are one of the company’s most significant priorities, noting TikTok spends over $2 billion on these efforts every year.
“The importance of how people and technology work together really is what makes this all possible. We’re excited about the role that technology and AI have to play in enhancing the safety efforts, driving discovery and amplifying creativity,” he said.
“We know that it really plays a valuable role across the entire platform, and also even just keeping our moderators safe. So, this is all work that we’re deeply committed to.”
