TikTok algorithm promotes sexual content to children as young as 13
The Wall Street Journal investigation created automated accounts registered as 13-15 year olds and found that TikTok's recommendation algorithm quickly began serving them sexual, drug, and alcohol content. TikTok acknowledged the issue and said it is working on a filter tool for younger users. The algorithm tailors content based on user interactions, leading to inappropriate recommendations for minors.
- Date it happened
- 2021-09-08
- Organisation involved
- TikTok
- Product, system or model
- TikTok recommendation algorithm
This incident was imported from dailymail.co.uk. Our additions to it — the structured fields, the translation, the checks against other reports — are published under the same licence.
This is a record of what was reported, not a finding that anyone broke the law. If it names your organisation and you believe it is wrong, the corrections process is free and open to everyone.