TikTok Struggling To Contain Spread Of Video Showing Man’s Apparent Suicide

TOPLINE

TikTok users are complaining a gruesome video showing a man’s apparent suicide that began circulating Sunday night is still popping up on the social media platform, raising concerns over TikTok’s ability to stamp out objectionable content. 

KEY FACTS

Crucial Quote 

“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,” said the TikTok spokesperson.

Key Background 

This is not the first time TikTok has struggled to deal with a suicide video circulating on its platform. Earlier this year, a 19-year-old user livestreamed his apparent suicide on TikTok and the company was criticized for waiting almost three hours to alert authorities. Other social media platforms have also struggled with this issue, including Facebook, which came under fire for delays in removing a live-streamed massacre at a mosque in New Zealand in 2019. 

Big Number

18 million. The number of daily TikTok users whom the company estimated to be 14 or younger, as of July 2020. 

Quick Tangent 

TikTok is currently in the middle of a standoff with the U.S. government. President Trump last month signed an executive order giving Chinese parent company ByteDance 90 days to divest TikTok’s operations in the U.S. TiKTok sued the Trump administration last month in response, and is currently considering offers from several U.S. companies, including, Oracle, and Microsoft and Walmart, who have reportedly put in a joint bid. 

Further Reading 

“TikTok U.S. Employee Asks Federal Court To Block Ban, Blasts Trump ‘Spitting Match’” (Forbes)