In an official statement released by TikTok, the short-form video platform is increasing the minimum age requirement by imposing age limits for live-streaming on its app, while in the same breath also introducing an “adults-only” category and new keyword filtering options for live comments.
In combination, the new updates would provide new and improved means to secure the safety of its live-stream offerings. From age restrictions to censored categories and prevention of unwanted comments for the mental well-being of its users.
TikTok introduces a range of new protective tools to better manage live streams for vulnerable users via age limits.
“Currently, people must be aged 16 or over to host a LIVE. From November 23rd, the minimum age will increase from 16 to 18. As we consider the breadth of our global audience, we already take a graduated approach to the features that our community can access based on their age; younger teens need to be aged 16 or older to access Direct Messaging and 18 or older to send virtual gifts or access monetization features.”
To an extent, this can be viewed as the platform’s increasing efforts to better control “high-risk” content, due to public scrutiny that it incentivizes young users to post provocative content as click-bait to grab attention and increase user engagement. Live-streaming amplifies “high-risk” content, as viewers can interact with streamers in real-time, which potentially exposes under-aged teens and puts young users at more risk. Therefore having age limits will enable the platform to better protect more vulnerable users.
On the other hand, age restrictions on the platform just so happens to be implemented right after the company has been exposed by a report by BBC for its unfair revenue share to refugee children on live streams asking for humanitarian aid.
The platform condoned this and released a statement that it does not support “begging”. This questions the whole morale of young users live-streaming for the main purpose of donations and receiving gifts, as it takes more money from those in need versus underaged influencers who do not depend on any monetary income as a means of survival.
TikTok notes that the platform has over time reassessed its various features and tools to ensure that teens are not unintentionally putting themselves at risk in the app. Its ongoing efforts to protect users, especially during a period where pressure is being placed on TikTok from institutions to better monitor the mental well-being of its young users can be seen as the first step in the right direction, even at the cost of lower engagement rates.
In addition to this, TikTok’s also launching a new option that will enable hosts to restrict their live streams to adult audiences. Keep in mind that TikTok has strict guidelines against nudity and any sex-related content and the launch of an “adult only” category would not mean that they are lessening these restrictions, but only allow for hosts to better curate an audience that limits “sensitive viewers”.
“For instance, perhaps a comedy routine is better suited for people over age 18. Or, a host may plan to talk about a difficult life experience and they would feel more comfortable knowing the conversation is limited to adults. We want our community to make the most of the opportunities LIVE can bring without compromising on safety.”
TikTok spokesperson
Content restricted by hosts for “adult only” categories is another great way for the platform to increase its protective means as it allows for content censorship to vulnerable users, allows creators to better target their audience, and enables the platform to lean into more controversial areas without the risk of public backlash.
On another front, TikTok’s also looking to provide more guidance for live broadcasters to help those better moderate stream comments, with new reminders that will suggest key terms that they may want to consider adding to their filter list.
As you can see in this example, the updated tool analyses the types of comments that a creator has most commonly removed from their streams, then suggests similar words and terms that the host may want to add to their filter list. This can be a means of self-protection against nasty commentary, unwanted conversations, and guests who take the attention away from the initial stream’s purpose.
“When we tested this feature, we found that it nearly doubled those using keyword filtering when looking at the most popular LIVE creators.”
That could make live-stream management much more… manageable, by streamlining the process of filtering out unwanted comments and keeping the conversation more focused.
All in all, the new and improved age restriction tools enable the platform to better differentiate content from its older and younger audiences. Ultimately only time will tell whether this will limit exposure to upcoming talents or better cultivate target-specific followers but one thing for certain is that age limits on certain content is a vital step for tech giants to take in order to put the well-being of vulnerable users first.
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