Reuters reported that TikTok will tighten age verification for users in Europe to better identify and block accounts of children under 13 years old. The decision comes amid growing pressure from European regulators to better protect minors from digital platforms.
The company plans to introduce an automated system that will analyze profile data, published content and user behavioral signals. If algorithms believe an account likely belongs to a child, the account won't be automatically blocked—the decision will be made by moderators after manual verification.
This new technology has been pilot tested in the UK. According to TikTok, during the testing process, thousands of user accounts that did not reach the minimum age were identified and deleted. In the event of an accidental block, users will be able to verify their age in a variety of ways, including document verification, using a credit card, or using facial age-based technology.
The increased scrutiny comes as European authorities grow increasingly concerned that existing age restrictions on social media are being easily circumvented and that the measures used are often ineffective or unduly intrusive on privacy. Regulators emphasize that platforms must strike a balance between child protection and privacy requirements.
TikTok is not the only platform under pressure. Some countries are discussing or introducing stricter restrictions on children and young people's access to social media. Thus, in Australia, social networks lost millions of users after introducing an age threshold.
