ARLast year we were pleased to announce our latest partnership as TikTok and Bumble Inc. joinined StopNCII.org in the fight against intimate image abuse across the world. With these new platforms on board, StopNCII.org will support adults in helping to protect their intimate images online across a global scale. With these new developments in place, TikTok has also recently spoke about other ways they are ‘strengthening enforcement’ of content, with particular reference to ‘sexually suggestive content’.
Enforcing policies and improving experience
While TikTok has policies in place towards content such as nudity and sexual activity there are also policies that look to address ‘suggestive’ content (sometimes referred to as ‘borderline content’) that more implies sexually explicit material rather than directly showing it. These policy areas are where TikTok is looking to strengthen enforcement ‘to foster an appropriate experience for our community, and minors in particular.’
To do this, TikTok are working to ensure that categories that may show this type of suggestive content are not ‘eligible for recommendation’ within the TikTok ‘For You’ feed (a recommended feed based off viewing habits). As well, work continues around preventing teen accounts (13-17) from viewing sexually suggestive material based on the Content Levels system that was released last year. This system works to prevent mature content such as bad language and other types of content to not reach teen accounts.
TikTok has also stated that they are working to improve their response towards sexually suggestive content by improving detection through machine learning. This will work towards removing content more quickly whilst preventing it from being recommended and searched for by younger accounts. Creators have also had the opportunity to restrict their audience to the type of content they are hoping to show, with options to reach only those accounts that are 18+, if they are looking to create more mature content. However, it is still strongly stated that any material that violates community guidelines even with this option selected will be removed.
Additional support
As well as these steps from TikTok, there are other things you can do to also help yourself stay protected online. As we mentioned above, the StopNCII tool is a ground-breaking initiative that can prevent perpetrators from sharing intimate images of adults online. To find out more about how it can protect, take a look at the website and discover more around how you can ensure your private intimate images, stay private.
If you have been affected by intimate image abuse, you can also contact the Revenge Porn Helpline for advice and support around the law and what steps you can take going forward.
If you have seen something harmful online, you can also get advice around how to report it using Report Harmful Content, a free platform for anyone over the age of 13 that can be used to report across eight different types of harm.
If you need help with privacy and security settings, you can also download our free TikTok checklist for guidance.
