TikTok has intensified its measures to penalize content creators who share potentially problematic content and has tightened its rules regarding content that can be recommended in the app. The new community guidelines will take effect in May and will include a list of content types that will not be recommended in the ‘For You’ feed. Here are the new rules…

TikTok is purging ‘For You’ recommendations of users who break the rules

The list includes not only explicit categories such as obscene or violent videos but also adds topics that have been controversial for the app before. For instance, videos depicting dangerous activities and challenges, as well as various types of weight loss and diet content, will no longer be recommended.

Furthermore, videos from users under the age of 16 will not appear in the ‘For You’ feed. Here are the new rules and application policies:

• Misinformation and conspiracy theories: TikTok will also block content that contains unfounded conspiracy theories and misleading information about specific events or situations. For example, content that portrays a crowd at a music concert as a political protest is banned.
• Account status feature: TikTok is adding a new ‘account status’ feature to allow users to monitor the status of their accounts when they violate these rules. Similar to a feature on Instagram, this will inform content creators about penalties received on their accounts and posts.
• Penalties and account accessibility: Content creators who continually violate the rules will have their accounts, not just specific posts, removed from recommendations and made harder to find in search results. No second chances will be given to users following these violations.

These steps are among the significant measures TikTok is taking to enhance content quality and ensure the safety of young users on the platform. TikTok’s initiative to regulate ‘For You’ recommendations demonstrates its commitment to improving content quality and ensuring user safety.

TikTok’s new community guidelines for the ‘For You’ section and the enhanced account management features aim to create a safer online environment, especially for younger users. These changes can also be viewed as part of TikTok’s efforts to comply with legal regulations and maintain its presence in the global market.

These strict policies in the recommendation algorithm are a critical step in directly affecting user experience, preserving the platform’s long-term reputation, and maintaining user loyalty. What do you think about these new rules? You can write your thoughts in the comments section below.