TIKTOK users who deadname or misgender others risk being banned under stricter safety rules.
The popular video sharing platform is cracking down on a wider range of hate speech and dangerous challenges that will come into effect over the new few weeks.
2
Deadnaming – when you call a transgender person by their birth name after they’ve changed it – is now considered a “hateful ideology” by the site.
The same applies for misgendering – using the wrong pronouns for a person – as well as misogyny and promoting controversial conversion therapy.
Although TikTok was already against these, it’s the first time they’ve been formally applied to the rules, meaning anyone in violation could now be banned.
As part of the move, the firm is also beefing up efforts against videos that glorify eating disorders and dangerous viral challenges.
This includes short-term fasting and overexercising which are considered “under-recognised signs of a potential problem”.
But the tech giant warned its an area “that’s difficult to consistently get right”.
Most read in News Tech
“We’re making this change, in consultation with eating disorders experts, researchers, and physicians, as we understand that people can struggle with unhealthy eating patterns and behaviour without having an eating disorder diagnosis,” TikTok said.
It comes after reports found eating disorder videos were still active on the platform, even though it’s long-been banned.
Over 91million videos, which account for 1%, were removed by TikTok in the last three months for breaking the rules.
A lot of the leg work is done by AI, which has increased as the technology improves.
Tech giants have been under increased scrutiny over the content they allow on their platforms.
Pressure is mounting on firms, with plans for new laws in the UK that make them more responsible for what they host.
2
In other news, Apple has revealed a bunch of new emoji for iPhone, including a pregnant man and two saucy symbols.
Experts have warned that future space launches could be jeopardised if “stupid” regimes like Russia don’t stop blasting the skies creating debris.
And the most popular phone since the millennium has been unveiled, with many shocked to find out it’s not an iPhone.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]
This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
