As part of its ongoing commitment to help users navigate the digital environment, TikTok has launched a new in-app Digital Literacy Hub that aims to encourage users to tap on the available safety features to protect themselves and others online, while still enjoying the benefits of the digital world.
The hub will serve as a one-stop portal that anchors all of TikTok’s educational initiatives around mental wellbeing, cyber wellness, minor safety, potentially dangerous online challenges, and other digital literacy topics.
It will also host digital literacy tips using videos, quizzes, and scenario-based learning content. These resources are designed to empower users to become more discerning about the kind of online content they choose to engage with, while also equipping them with the tools to recognize and report inappropriate materials should they encounter one.
In conjunction with The Hub launch, TikTok has also enhanced its Trust and Safety initiatives with a Safety Centre page, video warning labels, and an in-app Safety Guide. These, combined with creator efforts promoting #SaferTogether videos, will appear on the For You Page.
These initiatives aim to educate and inspire teens to #thinkb4youdo and adopt positive online habits. The new in-app guide encourages community members to follow the four-step process when engaging with an online challenge, asking them to:
- STOP for a moment
- THINK about what they’ve seen
- DECIDE how the content made them feel
- ACT on those feelings and report harmful challenges or hoaxes
In addition to updating their Community Guidelines, TikTok has also strengthened measures against potentially dangerous online challenges. They use technology that immediately alerts safety teams of any sudden spikes in content violations linked to particular hashtags, as well as privacy-by-design initiatives that restrict app usage for users under 16 to ensure age-appropriate experiences.
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