
TikTok has announced new updates to improve the security of its users as the company faces a possible ban in the U.S.
The social network plans to update its Community Guidelines next month, introducing new policy definitions to provide more clarity to users, especially when it comes to hate speech and health misinformation.
TikTok will also include more details on how the Search, LIVE and the For You features are moderated. It’s updating the rules for the For You feed to prohibit content related to behavioral health, sensitive and mature themes, integrity and authenticity, as well as regulated goods.
The app is also introducing a policy to make an account temporarily ineligible for recommendation in the feed. If a user posts content that goes against the app’s rules, their account and content will be more difficult to find in searches and the social network will send them a warning penalty. Accounts that violate zero tolerance policies (for example, incitement to violence) will immediately be banned.
The U.S. Senate approved a bill last week that would force ByteDance, the Chinese owner of the platform, to sell it within nine months or be banned in the country. The bill was signed by President Joe Biden last Wednesday and TikTok subsequently promised to file a legal challenge against the law.
TikTok had been gathering support against the potential ban this year, launching a TV and digital media campaign rejecting the legislation. At the same time, it has been releasing other updates for its users and brand partners, such as its most recent update to give advertisers more choice about what content accompanies their ads. The company is also in the early stages of testing a platform for photo and text content called TikTok Notes. The app is available for a limited time in Canada and Australia.
“We focus on empowering people with information about our policies and tools so they can safely express themselves and connect with others,” said the company in a statement following last week’s signing of the bill. “As we continue to challenge this unconstitutional ban, we will continue investing and innovating to ensure TikTok remains a space where Americans of all walks of life can safely come to share their experiences, find joy, and be inspired.”