"Global Witness set up fake accounts using a 13-year-old's birth date and turned on the video app's restricted mode, which limits exposure to sexually suggestive content. Researchers found TikTok suggested sexualised and explicit search terms to seven test accounts that were created on clean phones with no search history. The terms suggested under the you may like feature included very very rude skimpy outfits and very rude babes and then escalated to terms such as hardcore pawn [sic] clips."
"For three of the accounts the sexualised searches were suggested immediately. After a small number of clicks the researchers encountered pornographic content ranging from women flashing to penetrative sex. Global Witness said the content attempted to evade moderation, usually by showing the clip within an innocuous picture or video. For one account the process took two clicks after logging on: one click on the search bar and then one on the suggested search."
Researchers created TikTok accounts using a 13-year-old birth date and enabled restricted mode, which is intended to limit sexually suggestive content. Clean phones with no search history were used, yet the app suggested sexualised and explicit search terms under the "you may like" feature. Suggestions escalated from phrases such as "very very rude skimpy outfits" and "very rude babes" to terms like "hardcore pawn [sic] clips." For some accounts the sexualised searches appeared immediately, and after a small number of clicks researchers encountered pornographic content ranging from women flashing to penetrative sex. The pornographic clips often attempted to evade moderation by being shown within innocuous images or videos. Tests were conducted in two batches, with one set before and one after implementation of the UK's Online Safety Act child protection rules on 25 July.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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