European Commission opens research on ‘SkinnyTok-Trend’ on Tiktok

In recent weeks, Tiktok has been flooded by the ‘SkinnyTok-Trend’ where users share videos with tips to lose weight, promote extreme diets and show images of emaciated young women. The 56,000 videos with the hashtag ‘SkinnyTok’ have been viewed millions of times and are reminiscent of a phenomenon that appeared online for the first time two decades ago, when the pro-ana or pro-anorexia communities shared tips to be thin.

« Promoting these videos. Protecting extreme slenderness. Protecting minors online is one of my priorities, » responded the French Minister for Digital Media, Clara Chappaz, in a video that was posted on Tiktok last week. « Digital tools are great in terms of progress and freedom, but poorly used they can destroy lives and the social networks cannot avoid their responsibility. »

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Last month, French legislators approved the establishment of a parliamentary committee to investigate the psychological effects of Tiktok on children and young people. But France now wants to go one step further. Chappaz asked the French media regulator Arcom to investigate the case. The media regulator told Polrico That it cooperates with the European Commission « in view of the risk to public health ».

At the hour

In February an investigation was already being conducted by the committee into the Tiktok algorithm and the influence of that algorithm on minors. The research fits in with the Digital Services Act, which aims to « establish a safe and proportional legal environment to better combat illegal online content ».

As part of that research, the committee will also look at how Tiktok’s algorithm entails about eating disorders. From an investigation of VRT NWS It turned out last week that those who scroll on Tiktok will see such videos within the hour. Whoever watches the videos or liket gets more and more such videos.

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The French research is currently still at an early stage, according to a French regulator Polico. But conversations would have been set up between Arcom and Tiktok, soon conversations would also follow with trust and safety teams from Tiktok in Dublin.

Point The Contact, a so -called ‘Trusted Flagger’ that is responsible for tracing potentially illegal content, also investigates the matter in collaboration with the authorities. « The difficulty is to prove that the content is illegal and that the message is directly aimed at minors, » Point spokesperson told the contact Polrico. « But it is certain that Tiktok does not scans this hashtag quickly enough. We will see how they react. »

Message at the top

Tiktok says Bodyshaming Not to allow the platform and has to limit the « access to content that presents harmful lich ideals ». A disclaimer has also been added now. Anyone looking for the hashtag « SkinnyTok » now sees a message with the text: « Your weight does not determine who you are ».

Tiktok has been talking to the European Commission for some time. Last year the Chinese company was forced to put the launch Tiktok Lite in some European countries. The app offered users financial rewards if they would scroll more and, above all, longer. It was considered an app with a too high addiction risk that could be harmful to mental well -being. Eventually Tiktok abandoned the plans to roll out the service throughout the EU.