TikTok has committed to allocating a significant amount of US$2 billion (S$2.7 billion) by 2024 towards safeguarding children and other users of the video platform, as its monthly active user base in the United States surpasses 170 million.
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TikTok, also known as Douyin in mainland China, is a video hosting platform owned by ByteDance. It provides a space for users to share short-form videos, ranging from 3 seconds to 10 minutes in length. Both TikTok and Douyin have achieved widespread popularity since their inception.
During a hearing before the Senate judiciary committee on January 31, Chief Executive Chew Shou Zi will reveal the company's plan. This plan, which will be shared alongside representatives from Meta Platforms, X, Snap, and Discord, aims to address the issue of safeguarding youth online.
In his prepared testimony, Mr. Chew will announce that the company intends to allocate over US$2 billion in 2024 towards trust and safety initiatives worldwide.
This substantial investment will support a dedicated team of more than 40,000 people who will work tirelessly to ensure the online well-being of users. This information has been disclosed by Bloomberg News after reviewing the prepared testimony.
The disclosure highlights the rapid expansion of the ByteDance unit in the United States, as well as its ability to attract both users and advertising revenue from competitors such as Facebook, Instagram, and Google. The number of users in the US, who are predominantly over 30 years old according to Mr. Chew, has significantly increased from over 150 million in 2023.
This will be Mr. Chew's second appearance before Congress, following his previous testimony in 2023 regarding the potential national security risks associated with its Chinese ownership. This time, he will be joined at the witness table by some of his closest rivals in the industry.
Mr. Chew also intends to emphasize several policies specific to TikTok's teenage users. For instance, individuals below the age of 16 are unable to send messages within the application, and their videos cannot be downloaded or recommended to persons they are not already connected with.
Additionally, users aged 17 and below are subject to a predetermined screen time limit of 60 minutes, after which a password is required to continue watching.
Regarding the potential presence of sexually explicit images involving children, TikTok employs technology to review public content and identify any prohibited material, as said in the testimony. Mr. Chew also plans to mention that direct messages are moderated using third-party tools such as PhotoDNA and Take It Down. BLOOMBERG
