TikTok has recently introduced two new features designed to improve user experiences and reduce the spread of abusive or hateful messages. It is hoped that the changes will encourage users to think more about how they are interacting with each other as well as reducing the number of bullying-related incidents.
The newly introduced features include a 'Filter All Comments' tool that now enables content creators to pick and choose which comments they want to allow on their videos by approving or deleting comments before they are posted publicly. This is an enhancement of the existing tools that also allows creators to filter out keywords and offensive phrases automatically.
Our goal is to be a place where creativity and community can thrive, and we hope these new features help to further foster kindness and respect on TikTok.
Tara Wadhwa, Director of Policy, US Trust & Safety, TikTok
The second change is aimed at preventing people spreading potentially harmful or inappropriate comments with the introduction of push notifications to users regarding the nature of the comments they are about to send. The new 'Rethink' feature automatically sends users a notification asking them to reconsider the comment they are about to send as it may violate community guidelines.
The changes implemented by TikTok are in line with similar moves that social media platforms have been making in an effort to combat online abuse. Twitter and Instagram have also developed user safety tools that allow creators to tailor conversations more effectively and steer users to more responsible and meaningful conversations.
It is encouraging to see more platforms offering safety features that focus on preventing abuse before it is posted online. These changes ultimately empower content creators to shape the tone of their online conversations as well as giving people the opportunity to pause for thought by reconsidering posting comments that may cause offense.
Dan Raisbeck, Co-founder, The Cybersmile Foundation
As social media platforms such as TikTok play a bigger role in our daily lives, commenting features will become increasingly sophisticated and nuanced to address some of the wider issues of online abuse, allowing individual users to better communicate with friends and family without the fear of harassment.