TikTok is set to expand its age verification technology across Europe in the coming weeks as concerns about minors using social media platforms intensify. The move comes amidst growing calls for stricter regulations, with several countries considering bans or limits on social media use by under-16s.
The platform's new system will analyze user profile information, posted videos, and behavior signals to predict whether an account may belong to a minor under the age of 13. This technology will be used in conjunction with human moderators to review accounts flagged as potentially belonging to minors, rather than automatically banning them.
Users will have the option to appeal against the removal of their account if an error has been made, and can provide additional verification such as facial age estimation by Yoti, credit card authorization, or government-approved identification. The European pilot program led to the removal of thousands of accounts, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.
TikTok maintains that its system complies with data and privacy laws, stating that it only uses the predicted likelihood of a user being under 13 to decide whether to send an account to human moderators or monitor and improve the technology. The company emphasizes its commitment to protecting young users, particularly teens, while ensuring safety in a "privacy-preserving manner".
Other social media platforms, including Meta (which owns Facebook), are also exploring similar age verification technologies. In December, Australia implemented a social media ban for minors under 16, resulting in over 4.7 million accounts being removed across multiple platforms.
The UK government has expressed concerns about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on their smartphones, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting he is open to a social media ban for young people. The European parliament and Denmark are also pushing for age limits or bans on social media use by minors.
TikTok's expansion of its age verification technology aims to address these concerns and provide a more effective solution to ensure the safety and well-being of young users across Europe.
The platform's new system will analyze user profile information, posted videos, and behavior signals to predict whether an account may belong to a minor under the age of 13. This technology will be used in conjunction with human moderators to review accounts flagged as potentially belonging to minors, rather than automatically banning them.
Users will have the option to appeal against the removal of their account if an error has been made, and can provide additional verification such as facial age estimation by Yoti, credit card authorization, or government-approved identification. The European pilot program led to the removal of thousands of accounts, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.
TikTok maintains that its system complies with data and privacy laws, stating that it only uses the predicted likelihood of a user being under 13 to decide whether to send an account to human moderators or monitor and improve the technology. The company emphasizes its commitment to protecting young users, particularly teens, while ensuring safety in a "privacy-preserving manner".
Other social media platforms, including Meta (which owns Facebook), are also exploring similar age verification technologies. In December, Australia implemented a social media ban for minors under 16, resulting in over 4.7 million accounts being removed across multiple platforms.
The UK government has expressed concerns about the amount of time children and teenagers spend on their smartphones, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggesting he is open to a social media ban for young people. The European parliament and Denmark are also pushing for age limits or bans on social media use by minors.
TikTok's expansion of its age verification technology aims to address these concerns and provide a more effective solution to ensure the safety and well-being of young users across Europe.
, you know how some of my friends are always trying to hide their age on the app? It's crazy! 
I mean, I get it, some people might not be ready for all the responsibility that comes with social media, and having a system in place to verify users can't hurt, right? 
But at the same time, I'm like, what if it's too invasive? Like, my parents are always on my case about being online responsibly, and I feel like this new system might just add another layer of stress for me and other teens. 
Still, I guess it's better than just having no age verification at all... we need some kind of balance here, you know? 
we need more transparency here. and btw, why can't other social media platforms just use tiktok's tech instead of reinventing the wheel? 
they're really taking steps to protect their younger users, which is def a positive step forward for social media platforms as a whole 
the fact that they're using human moderators too is so smart - it's not just about tech, but also about having real people who care 
] When will they invent an app that just checks if you're 13 or not and then just lets you post whatever? 
[
](https://tenor.com/gifs/laughter-30 secs/bubblegum-smile)
. We can't just rely on one platform to keep our young ones safe. We need stricter regulations across the board 
.
! We gotta make sure our data and privacy laws are on point too 
.
. The UK government should def take a closer look at this 
. This is a step in the right direction, fingers crossed that it'll lead to real change 
!
gotta keep them protected from harm online! 
meanwhile, Australia removed 4.7 million accounts in Dec and the UK gov's worried about teens on their phones 
and now some countries wanna ban social media for minors 
think this tech is a step in the right direction but we'll see how it plays out 
, especially with all the weird stuff that can be found online 
. It's just common sense to want to make sure minors aren't getting exposed to mature content or even worse 
I think it's amazing that TikTok is taking steps to protect its younger users, even if their parents aren't always paying attention 
. I mean, can you imagine being a teenager trying to navigate online content without some kinda parental gatekeeper to watch out for? It's wild how quickly things escalated from just worrying about cyberbullying to full-blown bans and limits 
. anyways, i'm all for them taking steps to ensure user safety and all that jazz 
. I mean, 4.7 million accounts being removed in Australia is just crazy! Can't we just implement this tech across the board already? 
. And let's be real, who doesn't love having an extra layer of security when it comes to our personal info? 
.
, dont wanna be stuck with an account deleted by mistake tho 
, but on the other hand, its better safe than sorry 
. I mean, we all want our kids to have fun online, but at what cost? It's crazy how quickly social media can take over your life, especially for teens.