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TikTok and content moderation: Should Indonesia worry?
Content moderation is aimed at protecting one user from another, or one group from their opposition, and removing content that is considered “offensive” or “illegal”.
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Tricks: TikTok has officially taken down 'ngemis online’ on their platform which many deemed to be exploiting elderly individuals (Kompas.com) (Kompas.com/Courtesy of Kompas)
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t is unfathomable what type of content we can encounter on our smartphones on a daily basis. From cooking tutorials and people playing with lato-lato (clackers) to elderly people bathing in mud and children participating in dangerous trends. Some of this content lies within a gray area of legality.
Recently, the global community has been dumbfounded by the United States congressional hearing that grilled TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about data security and harmful content on TikTok. Some US lawmakers are striving to ban the app nationwide for fear of harmful content and security threats.
But is banning social media platforms really the answer? Are there any alternatives to strike a fine balance between citizens’ freedom of expression and protecting them from harmful and illegal content?
On March 23, Chew was questioned extensively on TikTok’s policy and practices in terms of moderating content, data security and protecting young users. While some may criticize Congress’ lack of research in questioning, the hearing also brought to light critical issues for the urgency of strengthening data privacy protection and content moderation.
An interesting question by one of the congressmen asked how the TikTok algorithm “pushes” dangerous challenges to the feeds of young children. The case of a 10-year-old girl participating in a “blackout” choking challenge served as an example of harmful content found on TikTok. This is just one of the examples where content and its moderation are crucial, and Indonesia is not an exception.
Early this year, the Communications and Information Ministry asked TikTok to ban all content related to mandi lumpur (mud baths). The online begging phenomenon is one of many situations, alongside pornographic, inappropriate and harmful content, where platforms should cooperate effectively with the government for moderation.
It might be a surprise that the debate over the assessment of what is “graphic” or “obscene” or content that contains “nudity” has been occurring for decades. From when information was still printed on paper, content moderation has been inseparable from the media.
