Following pressure from European regulators, TikTok is emphasizing child safety by implementing an 'age verification system' to limit access to the platform to users under the age of 13.
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TikTok is set to introduce age-detection technology in Europe. TikTok is set to implement an age verification system to identify users under the age of 13, according to Reuters.
The system determines whether a user is under 13 based on a user's profile details, posted videos and other activities. If the system identifies an account, it will be reviewed by TikTok's specialized moderators rather than automatically banning it.
TikTok told Reuters that it will implement the age-verification system in Europe within the next week. The company tested the system in the UK last year. TikTok said the system was specifically designed to comply with European regulatory provisions.
European regulators are putting a lot of pressure on social media platforms to emphasize child safety. In particular, regulators have instructed them to strictly comply with the minimum age rules set for operating platforms. The pressure is being exerted with the aim of protecting children from potential risks online.
TikTok has announced that it will implement age verification technology after growing calls in European countries, like Australia, to ban users under the age of 16 from social media platforms. According to The Guardian, there has been increasing pressure on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, which are popular among children, to implement age verification systems and close the accounts of underage users.
In recent years, there has been great concern and debate around the world about children's access to social media. Doctors, researchers and governments have been warning about the negative impact it has on children's intellectual development. According to some studies, comparing your life with others, chasing likes and comments, reduces their self-confidence.
Just last month, a study published by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research and the National University of Singapore found that infancy is a very sensitive time for brain development, and that excessive digital exposure during this stage can prematurely activate some neural pathways instead of promoting balanced brain development. The scientists concluded that while the intense visual and audio stimuli from screens may accelerate some neural development, higher-order thinking, self-control and decision-making functions may remain relatively weak.
