On Thursday, TikTok revealed modifications to its Community Guidelines aimed at clarifying its regulations and simplifying adherence, as mentioned by TikTok’s global head of trust and safety, Sandeep Grover, in a blog entry. These modifications will take effect starting Sept. 13.
The Community Guidelines will now include a summary at the top of each policy. In addition to format updates, TikTok will establish new regulations regarding misinformation, unify rules encompassing gambling, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, firearms, and other weapons into a singular policy, enhance its bullying policy, and more.
Users can compare the existing Community Guidelines with the new ones that will be implemented next month. The overarching rules for Safety and Civility, Mental and Behavioral Health, Sensitive and Mature Themes, Integrity and Authenticity, Regulated Goods, Services, and Commercial Activities, and Privacy and Security are now distinctly detailed.
Previously, the main page featured only a section on Content Moderation, which remains largely unchanged except for some phrasing revisions. The soon-to-be-outdated Content Moderation section stated, “Maintaining our platform safe, trustworthy, and vibrant necessitates a balance between creative expression and harm prevention.” It will now state, “We want TikTok to be a safe, fun, and creative place for everyone,” omitting “trustworthy” from these guidelines.
The Misinformation section, under Integrity and Authenticity, remains mostly the same with minor language changes. For instance, the prior guidelines noted that unverified information regarding emergencies could not appear in the For You Feed; the updated version specifies the same concerning “crises and significant civic events.”
TikTok has also modified the Accounts and Features section, which outlines rules regarding features such as TikTok LIVE, search, external links, comments, direct messages, and monetization. TikTok has broadened this section, clearly defining what constitutes a breach of its regulations.
For instance, in the TikTok LIVE guidelines, it now indicates that LIVE creators bear responsibility for all occurrences during their sessions, even if they involve third-party tools like voice-to-text. If voice-to-text vocalizes a harmful comment, the creator must accept accountability for enabling the tool.
The expansions regarding what LIVES are ineligible for the For You Feed now include scenarios showing “low quality content,” such as a blank screen, or “potentially distressing material that may induce anxiety or fear, like frightening make-up.”
The comments section was also broadened. TikTok asserts that comments may be ranked lower if they “don’t contribute to the conversation,” such as those containing profanity or offensive remarks.
Grover affirmed that these revisions stem from dialogues with creators, experts, and organizations, encompassing the app’s regional Advisory Councils. The app has trained both human and AI moderators to enforce these new regulations. Grover specifically mentioned that the app will persist in investing in “modern technologies,” including AI, to uphold its policies.
These edits to the Community Guidelines come on the heels of TikTok’s introduction of fact-checking Community Notes and parental blocking features last month.