After TikTok "got into trouble", it officially banned Italian users under the age of 13

On Wednesday, TikTok publicly announced that it had reached an agreement with the Italian authorities and planned to shut down the TikTok accounts of all Italian users starting from February 9. Only after the users filled in their date of birth would they be allowed to use the TikTok short video app again .

This measure is a remedy for the death of a girl in Palermo, Italy, who suffocated to death after participating in the popular "suffocation challenge" on TikTok earlier this year. In addition to prohibiting users under the age of 13 from using the TikTok application, TikTok also allows users to "report" underage users who appear to be under the age of 13 with one click. In addition, in order to more systematically manage the usage rights of TikTok users, TikTok also plans to use artificial intelligence to detect accounts of minors.

Alexandra Evans, head of child safety at TikTok , said in a statement: " It is our top priority to keep people trusting and continuing to use TikTok , but our work to protect TikTok users, especially young users, will never stop. "

At the same time as TikTok relaunched age review in Italy, it will also launch a local awareness campaign in Italy through the app and media to raise awareness among parents and children about TikTok 's age review measures and child safety features.

Italy's regulators have said they will monitor the effectiveness of TikTok 's age verification process. However, relying on users to "voluntarily" verify their age leaves room for "cheating", and more specific identity verification will involve violations of user privacy and information leaks.

TikTok is also subject to some regulation by the authorities in the United States. Users under the age of 13 can register and use TikTok , but the available functions are relatively limited, such as not being able to comment on videos, not being able to send messages to other users, and not displaying public profiles.

Judging from the setbacks TikTok has encountered in its overseas expansion, many overseas countries have formulated relatively strict protection measures for minors. Sellers should also be careful not to touch the minefields of laws related to child safety when using social platforms for promotion.

TikTok

Italy