As social media constantly evolves are presents new challenges, TikTok has stepped up its game to address misleading and violent content, particularly following the Israel-Hamas conflict. While other social media giants like Meta and X have been making similar moves, TikTok is uniquely focusing on agility and global expertise to handle such crises.

TikTok’s new command center has 40,000 safety experts to moderate media

The social media app has set up a command center comprised of a global team of 40,000 safety experts. The idea is to tackle the issues from multiple angles, taking into account regional variations and sentiments. The incorporation of a diverse team aims to make TikTok’s response not just quick, but culturally sensitive and globally effective.

Tiktok

TikTok is also investing in language-specific moderation by hiring more moderators fluent in Arabic or Hebrew. The goal here is twofold: better pinpoint harmful content and provide a more nuanced filtering system that considers the linguistic and cultural subtleties that generic algorithms might miss. This comes after a moderator sued the company in 2021, claiming that the job caused her mental trauma. TikTok has responded by broadening the well-being support for its moderators, an often-overlooked workforce handling the grim aspects of the internet.

Moreover, TikTok is taking technological measures to combat false information and graphic content. It’s not just about taking videos down; it’s also about ensuring what stays up is there for the right reasons. Users will now find opt-in screens for graphic content that serves public interest, and limitations have been set on who can go Live to cut down on the spread of misinformation.

Between October 7 and October 15 alone, TikTok removed approximately 500,000 videos and halted 8,000 livestreams related to the Israel-Gaza situation. As it looks ahead, the company will introduce misinformation warnings in multiple languages, starting with English, Hebrew, and Arabic. This new multilayered approach shows that TikTok is not just reacting to crises, but planning for a safer digital future for its global audience.

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