TikTok has become the second most downloaded app of 2019, producing content at a speed unmet by any of the other social media platforms with viral challenges popping up, which seems like every second.
The Miami-Dade School Incident
In a recent turn of events, a mother is calling for action from her daughter’s former Miami-Dade school after the teen was hurt from participating in a dangerous stunt going viral on social media.
The high school freshman, who did not want to be identified, said she was bullied into doing the “skullbreaker challenge” at South Dade Senior High School. The online trend is one of TikTok’s newest challenges, and it involves three participants who stand in a line and jump. When the middle person’s feet leave the ground, the people on the sidekick their feet out from under them, often leading to the middle person falling backward and possibly smacking their head on the ground or hurting the backbone.
With aged 13 and above making up the largest chunk of TikTok’s audience, the hub for short-form creative videos on Safer Internet Day has yet again emphasized its strict safety measures and ethical practices by adhering to the cultural standards and rules of each country. Its safety guideline on the platform follows the 4Ps protocols: Policy, Product, People, and Partners.
The Miami teen who had taken the fall due to the TikTok challenge has admitted that he was bullied in fulfilling the challenge.
The teen’s attorney said the family intends to proceed against the Miami-Dade County Public Schools District for “allowing the (challenge), which (is) trending on social media, to take place within our schools.”
The students involved were disciplined according to the district’s code of student conduct. Additionally, the teen’s mother did not file charges.
The teen has transferred schools since the incident.
What does TikTok Safety Policy Ensure?
Ensuring safety on its platform, TikTok has a clear and strict community guideline. Any content that aims to sexually exploit or endanger adolescents is considered a serious offence. If found, content of this nature will be immediately removed and its user’s account deleted. Legal actions may be applied as appropriate. This is so all users can create and unleash their creativity on a safe platform.
How is TikTok effecting the young adults around the world?
A press release of the Miami based incident said “As part of a recent disturbing national trend, students are participating in social media pranks to gain likes and followers, potentially at the expense of others,” the district said in a statement. “The behavior in this video demonstrates a lack of good judgment on the part of those involved and will not be tolerated by our district. Parents are urged to speak with their children about the responsible use of social media, and to remind them that respect and empathy for others is far more important than any online trend.”
TikTok’s policy, however, entails that there are many functions and features within the TikTok’s platform that both users and their guardians can utilise to manage the account’s privacy setting. They can screen inappropriate content or users that may negatively affect children and adolescents. TikTok has invested heavily in developing its human resources and tools to detect and screen inappropriate content that can affect children and youths.
Zero Tolerance In The Face Of Cyber Bullying:
TikTok’s safety policy also features a zero tolerant policy on hate speech and cyberbullying. Users are able to control their own privacy settings, delete inappropriate messages, and block bullying users. The application also provides them with easy access to report inappropriate behaviours safely and quickly.
Latest Upgrades In Safety Policy:
Announcing its latest development on Safer Internet Day, TikTok has also added another feature in the application for creators to report improper hashtags easily by going to Hashtag -> Arrow -> Report. This feature enables them to report anything they find to be inappropriate including video content, comments under each video, audio, music, hashtag, and any account that produces ill-suited content.
