After a video of a man committing suicide appeared on TikTok, the app has been struggling to stop the video from being shared across the platform. Although TikTok has made an effort to remove traces of the video, the graphic content is still getting passed around.
The gruesome video appeared on TikTok after it was streamed live on Facebook. Many users unwittingly stumbled upon the video on their For You page.
The For You page is what TikTok is famous for—it’s an endless stream of recommended videos that TikTok curates for each user. Some users have also found the clip hidden inside seemingly innocent videos, making it even more shocking for TikTok fans.
Despite TikTok making a concerted effort to take down the video, some users are still reuploading copies. In a statement to The Verge, a TikTok spokesperson noted the steps it will take to combat the spread of the clip, stating:
Our systems have been automatically detecting and flagging these clips for violating our policies against content that displays, praises, glorifies, or promotes suicide. We are banning accounts that repeatedly try to upload clips, and we appreciate our community members who’ve reported content and warned others against watching, engaging, or sharing such videos on any platform out of respect for the person and their family.
TikTok’s recommendation algorithm makes it harder for the app to stop the circulation of the video. Since copies of the video may still crop up, many TikTok creators have warned their viewers to stay vigilant until TikTok can contain the situation.
TikTok will likely need to modify its moderation policies to prevent future incidents such as this. With a large number of young people using TikTok on a daily basis, the app should take extra measures to protect its users.
Given that many users were already contemplating uninstalling TikTok for its alleged privacy issues, the app’s failure to stop this clip from going viral may be the final straw.