TikTok is taking an automated approach to content moderation. The platform will now automatically remove videos that violate TikTok's Community Guidelines.
TikTok Puts Content Removal in Technology's Hands
In a post on the TikTok Newsroom, TikTok announced its efforts to make content removal more efficient. Previously, videos on TikTok passed through an initial filter that checked whether the video violated any of TikTok's guidelines. If a video was flagged, a TikTok safety team member would review it and then decide whether or not to remove it.
But now, TikTok is taking human review out of part of the removal process in the US and Canada. Its content moderation technology will automatically review and remove certain types of content, all without the help of humans.
TikTok's technology will only tackle videos in which it "has the highest degree of accuracy" in identifying. This includes videos that violate TikTok's policies on adult nudity, the safety of minors, sexual content, as well as violence.
The human side of TikTok's safety team won't be sitting idly, however. They'll be charged with handling more nuanced content, like bullying, harassment, and misinformation. TikTok notes that this change of pace also gives the team a break from viewing "distressing videos."
Although TikTok says that it will keep improving its technology to "minimize incorrect removals," mistakes are still bound to happen. As noted in the post, the platform's removal system has a false takedown rate of five percent. That's a fairly large chunk of videos, considering that TikTok removed over 61 million clips in the first half of 2021 alone.
When TikTok removes a video, the platform will notify the user of their violation in the Account Updates section of their Inbox. Any zero-tolerance violations will result in an immediate ban, and repeated, less severe violations can result in an eventual ban as well.
If TikTok ends up removing content that isn't actually in violation of TikTok's policies, the creator can still appeal its removal.
Will TikTok Remove Even More Videos in 2021?
Now that TikTok has automated a portion of its content removal system, takedowns will likely become even more prominent on the platform. Videos that aren't in violation of TikTok's policy will inevitably get mixed in as well, which could definitely prove frustrating to users.
It's tough to replace human eyes when moderating content, so we won't be surprised to see TikTok's removal rate jump even higher in TikTok's next Transparency Report.