TikTok defends safety measures as EU pushes to limit children's social media access
TikTok's policy chief Ali Law defended the social media platform's safety measures as the European Union progresses with plans to restrict children's access to social media.
TikTok's public policy director for Northern Europe, Ali Law, has defended the platform's safety features amid the European Union's push to restrict children's social media access.
Speaking to CNBC, Law stated that TikTok has over 50 preset safety settings for users under 16, including a one-hour screen time limit and a 10 p.m. screen takeover prompting a break. These measures are designed to foster a balanced and healthy relationship with the app.
The remarks come as the EU advances plans to enhance online safety for young people, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasizing that social media is not a toy and indicating the bloc will explore age limits for platforms.
TikTok has faced scrutiny over features perceived as addictive, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay. Law highlighted the company's $2 billion investment in trust and safety last year to address these concerns.
Concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health have led to regulatory actions globally. Similar to TikTok, other platforms like Meta and Google have faced allegations related to addictive design features and their potential harm to young users.