Tiktok blocks the hashtag #skinnytok after EU requests: « unhealthy content on weight loss »

Very skinny girls, who proudly show the skeletal legs and very thin hips, which offer extreme diets and tricks to lose weight quickly. The trend #skinnytok has become so popular in recent months that it arouses concerns of the European Commission and the French digital content regulator Arom. On their request, Tiktok decided to block the hashtag worldwide, «Since it was connected to unhealthy content on weight loss», It is declared by a spokesperson. The move is part of a wider attempt by the platform owned by the Chinese Bytedance of Create a safer environment for minors – We talked about it here – Although the EU investigations on possible violations of the Digital Services Act are still in progress. Now, if you try to look for the hashtag #skinnytok comes out a notice who tries to help those who could have psychological problems relating to their appearance to ask for a hand. Just as happens for other hashtags relating to sensitive arguments such as suicide or self -harm.

It remains anyway a drop in the middle of an ocean that of the #Skinnytok block. Removed a hashtag, another one thousands of them are created. Like the one shown in the photo below, which uses the assonance of the word « Waste » (loss) with the word « waist » (waist) in order to camouflage the contents it collects. Once again, female skeletal bodies and unhealthy advice on nutrition.

In recent years Tiktok has undertaken many initiatives to try to stem this type of content. An example is the Block of some beauty filters for those with an account for minors of 18 yearswho can create « disturbing » psychic effects on the perception of their appearance. There are then, as mentioned, of the Direct links to non -profit organizations who dedicated themselves to helping those who suffer from some psychological discomfort. The latest novelty, in order of time, concerns the Personalization of the feed for youwith tools to manage the topics that appear most and advanced filters for keywords. However, the most complex challenge remains that of identify minors in a certain way: at the moment the age verification It is a self -declaration, which is then ascertained through artificial intelligence systems that try to understand – based on the behaviors and content published – those who have lied on their age. The problem is shared by the other platforms, such as Instagram. And in fact destination, As we wrote hereasked that the app distributors – then Apple and Google through their stores – find a universal solution for everyone.