TikTok reiterates commitment to safety

MANILA, Philippines — Short-form video platform TikTok has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety of young users through “age-appropriate experiences and controls,” which aim to establishing safe and inclusive space for all.

“As a newer platform looking to innovate how we build, we’re committed to addressing long-running industry challenges around youth safety,” Toff Rada, TikTok’s head of public policy in the Philippines, said during a recent roundtable with the media.

“We’ve designed our app with safety in mind, implementing a ‘Safety by Design’ approach that ensures we are protecting our community. We’re dedicated to partnering with families as we share their interests in supporting teens as they start to explore the online world independently,” Rada added.

It takes a proactive approach to ensure that its community guidelines “adapt to the evolving digital landscape while addressing emerging safety concerns,” according to TikTok.

The company said the guidelines, which are available in English and Filipino, are a result of consultations with government agencies, diversity experts, non-government organizations (NGOs) and teens.

“We regularly involve teens in the conversations we have about online safety, enabling us to listen and be responsive to their needs,” Kahnji Weerachaising, TikTok’s outreach and partnerships manager, said.

“We partner with Child Rights Coalition Asia and ChildFund Philippines to host safety consultations with Filipino youth and we continuously engage with experts and NGOs to keep abreast of local trends through forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nation Information and Communications Technology Forum on Child Protection,” Weerachaising added.

The popular online platform also rolled out several features to ensure that parents and caregivers are given the necessary tools and resources to guide young people.

These include the Family Pairing feature, as well as the Guardian’s Guide in English and Filipino for guardians, educators and families.

TikTok also launched its Regional Safety Advisory Council, which brings together groups of independent experts to help develop “forward-looking policies and processes” for the platform.

Content creator Mona Magno-Veluz, known for posting educational content through her account @mightymagulang, sits on the council as the Philippine representative.

“Being part of TikTok’s Safety Advisory Council allows me to contribute to shaping a safer and more inclusive digital space. It’s an opportunity to represent the voices of Filipino users, ensuring that our community’s concerns and perspectives are taken into account in the development of TikTok’s safety policies,” Veluz said.