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According to a new study, the widely-used social media app has been observed to guide children's accounts to pornographic content in just a couple of steps.

Testing Approach

Global Witness established simulated profiles using a birthdate of a 13-year-old and activated the platform's content restriction feature, which is intended to reduce exposure to sexually suggestive content.

Researchers found that TikTok recommended inappropriate and adult-themed search terms to multiple test profiles that were established on unused smartphones with no previous activity.

Alarming Recommendation Features

The terms suggested under the "recommended for you" feature contained "provocative attire" and "inappropriate female imagery" – and then advanced to terms such as "hardcore pawn [sic] clips".

Regarding three of the accounts, the adult-oriented recommendations were proposed instantly.

Fast Track to Adult Material

Within minimal interaction, the investigators found pornographic content including women flashing to penetrative sex.

Global Witness claimed that the content attempted to evade moderation, typically by showing the video within an benign visual or video.

Regarding one profile, the procedure took two interactions after accessing the app: one interaction on the search bar and then a second on the recommended term.

Regulatory Context

The research entity, whose scope includes researching technology companies' influence on human rights, reported performing multiple testing phases.

Initial tests occurred before the activation of minor safety measures under the UK's Online Safety Act on July 25th, and additional tests after the rules took effect.

Concerning Discoveries

Researchers noted that two videos included someone who looked like they were below the age of consent and had been reported to the online safety group, which oversees exploitative content.

Global Witness asserted that the video platform was in violation of the Online Safety Act, which requires tech companies to stop children from viewing dangerous material such as adult material.

Official Reaction

A communications officer for Ofcom, which is responsible for regulating the law, commented: "We value the work behind this investigation and will examine its findings."

The regulator's guidelines for adhering to the legislation specify that tech companies that pose a significant danger of presenting inappropriate videos must "modify their programming" to block dangerous material from young users' timelines.

The platform's rules prohibit explicit material.

Platform Response

The video platform said that after being contacted from Global Witness, it had removed the problematic material and implemented adjustments to its recommendation system.

"Upon learning of these allegations, we took immediate action to look into the matter, remove content that violated our policies, and launch improvements to our search suggestion feature," stated a spokesperson.