Social-Media
TikTok races to avoid the dissemination of a gruesome video.
TikTok is trying to delete the gruesome videos that circulate the app that depict a man shooting himself with a pistol, and to ban the accounts from people who re-upload the clip.
TikTok says the clip was initially uploaded to Facebook and has appeared on other apps. As the TikTok community became aware of the clip, several creators began posting videos warning their followers to look out for an image — a man sitting in front of his desk with a gray beard — and to swipe away from the video. Other makers spoke about the most upsetting aspect of the video being concealed among the more harmless TikToks. A representative of TikTok reported that "suicide video" had begun to circulate on Sunday night.
Our systems have automatically identified and flagged these clips for breaching our policies against content that shows, celebrates, glorifies, or encourages suicide, the spokesperson said. We 're banning accounts that repeatedly try to upload clips, and we appreciate our community members who have recorded content and cautioned others against viewing, participating, or sharing those videos on any platform out of respect for the individual and their families.
In the past, these forms of videos have appeared on other platforms, including Facebook , Instagram, and Reddit. TikTok videos appear in one of the key feeds known as the For You Page that people browse through, it can be harder to avoid the clips.
This may explain why the TikTok group is trying to be extra careful to warn others about the imagery in the video. Warnings have also begun to pop up on Instagram, where video clips circulate. On sites like Twitter, parents talked about their children and teenagers coming across the video, and the toll that's going on.
If someone in our group deals with thoughts of suicide or worries about someone who is, we encourage them to seek help and provide direct access to hotlines from our app and our Safety Center, said the spokesperson.
