- Former TikTok staffers link platform to dangerous behavior in interviews with the BBC.
- Network cites obsession with true crime, school vandalism, and riots as examples.
- Ex-staffers claim TikTok prioritizes engagement over quelling inflammatory content.
Former TikTok staff express concerns about the platform’s role in fueling riots and anti-social behavior by promoting certain topics, according to the BBC.
The network interviewed two former workers – a content moderator and a data analyst – who both claimed that the app’s algorithm encouraged reckless behavior.
The BBC spoke to multiple sources who shared similar views, but only provided the first names of the two individuals.
TikTok responded to the BBC’s report, contesting that its algorithm should be blamed for real-world harm and highlighting features designed to limit the spread of inflammatory content.
A TikTok spokesperson also stated that their systems prioritize safety.
The platform argued that traditional media reporting can also contribute to real-world harm, citing examples like the non-existent “TikTok boat jumping challenge”, where journalists amplified a few isolated posts and made them go viral.
In interviews with the BBC, former TikTok staff attributed some of the real-world harm to the platform’s prioritization of engagement, especially since TikTok users are more likely to deeply engage with trends.
The BBC highlighted four instances where TikTok interest seemed to drive dangerous or unpleasant behavior in real life:
- The frenzy surrounding a group of students killed in Idaho
- A missing-person case in the UK that ended with the woman being found dead
- A wave of vandalism in UK schools
- Recent riots in France
In November 2022, amateur sleuths became fixated on the murder of four students in Idaho, with TikTok videos about the case garnering 2 billion views, according to the BBC. This led to false accusations against individuals as TikTok users believed they had solved the case.
In January, a missing-person case involving Nicola Bulley went viral on TikTok, generating intense interest. Some users even visited the town where Bulley disappeared to gather their own evidence for posting.
Curtis Arnold, a man who filmed Bulley’s body, was arrested and banned from posting more about her. Arnold argued that his actions were lawful and expressed intent to take action against the police, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The BBC investigation also highlighted incidents of school disruptions in the UK in March. Students engaged in violence, such as smashing windows, throwing tables, and setting trees on fire, to protest against school rules regarding bathroom breaks and skirt lengths, as reported by the UK’s Observer newspaper.
The former content moderator told the BBC that TikTok’s viral nature triggered different groups of students to outdo each other, turning the disruptions into a “competition to see which school can up the other and make it more extreme.”
In a similar vein, TikTok, along with Snapchat and other platforms, was accused of exacerbating riots in France in June following the fatal shooting of a teenager by the police. French President Emmanuel Macron at the time acknowledged the considerable role social media played in encouraging violence.
The former data analyst told the BBC that he never witnessed the company proactively preventing dangerous content from gaining traction.
“They don’t want to hinder the rapid growth of entertainment on their platform,” he said.
TikTok has consistently distanced itself from off-platform behavior and emphasized its efforts to remove content that promotes harmful behavior.
The TikTok spokesperson assured Insider that claims of the platform not proactively limiting guideline-violating content are false.
“Our recommendation system is designed to prioritize safety, suggesting a range of content,” the spokesperson stated. “We proactively interrupt repetitive patterns and reduce the reach of videos containing unverified information.”
The statement also mentioned that TikTok has 40,000 employees working to ensure platform safety and often catches videos before they receive any views.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
