Criticized for its “addictive” aspect, the Chinese ultra-short video site TikTok wants to show that it takes the subject seriously. The social network announced the implementation in a few weeks, by default, of a warning after 60 minutes of use for all those who declared to be under 18 years old. And not a simple notification: the minor will have to enter a password to continue to watch the site, specifies the site in a press release.
If they have a family pairing of accounts, parents will be able to “set their teen’s maximum daily screen time” “based on the days of the week,” TikTok says. Young people can still, however, disable the feature or lie about their age, like on other websites.
Explosion of time spent on screens
This new feature, which complements existing warnings, aims to respond to those who criticize the explosion of time spent on the app by 4-18 year olds, caught up in the uninterrupted scrolling of videos offered by algorithms that analyze their tastes. . According to a recent global study by Qustodio, in 2022, minors spent an average of 1h47 per day on TikTok.
Secretary of State for Children Charlotte Caubel had questioned TikTok in a tweet on February 25. “The European Commission is asking its employees to remove TikTok. This must also question us for our children. The application is subject to many abuses: pinching in the face, misinformation… Its impact should not be underestimated”.
“This proposal is a step in the right direction, but does not address all of our concerns, particularly with regard to the protection of user data and the content of content accessible to our children,” she reacted on Wednesday. , judging that a “firm and committed dialogue with the platforms is the only way to protect our children on the Internet”. The Minister Delegate for the Digital Transition Jean-Noël Barrot sees, for his part, in this device announced by TikTok a “progress which was expected”.
TikTok is also implicated for suspicions of data transfer to China, which has led several European and American governments to decide to ban the app on the phones of public officials. During a recent debate organized in Bercy for Internet Safer Day on February 7, young people asked for less catchy apps.
“Putting messages to say ‘you’ve spent so much time’ is not enough, it’s a facade, it’s useless! We just have to stop making addictive content and reduce addiction by doing something else on the videos, ”protested Alexandra, one of the young people invited to this debate with the platforms.