TikTok will increase the minimum age for live streaming from 16 to 18 starting November 23, and will soon allow users to target adult audiences with streamed content. The changes are part of the social media giant’s effort to improve community safety.
“TikTok’s foundation is built on community trust and security,” TikTok said Monday. “To protect our users and creators and to support their well-being, we are constantly working to further develop the safeguards we put in place.”
Currently, any user over the age of 16 with at least 1,000 followers can host a TikTok live stream or LIVE. Users who are 18 years of age or older can also send and receive tips, allowing users to earn tips for their content.
The new adult viewership feature for live streaming is designed to “protect the younger members of our community as they launch and build their online presence,” TikTok said, citing adult comedy routines and sensitive story content that are better for users over the Age of suitable would be 18.
TikTok said it will add updated keyword features to further improve live stream security.
“LIVE creators can already use our keyword filtering tool to limit comments they deem inappropriate,” the social media company said. “In the coming weeks we will be rolling out an updated version of this feature that will send a reminder to people and suggest new keywords they may want to add to their filter list.”
TikTok also announced a new multi-guest LIVE experience that allows up to five others to join a user’s live stream and has already rolled out in the app.
“We have a vibrant and inspiring community on TikTok, and it’s important that our platform remains a safe, supportive, and joyful place for our community,” TikTok said.
TikTok, which originated in China, has grown immensely in popularity since debuting in North America in 2017. More than two-thirds of American teens used TikTok in August, according to data from Pew Research. The app even has exploited by American politicians in election campaigns, prompting TikTok to do so Ban campaign fundraisers on the platform.
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