Social media platform TikTok potentially utilized for instructional purposes?

In the digital age, one app has captured the attention of millions of young people worldwide – TikTok. This mobile application, offering short videos, launched in September 2016, has become a global sensation.

The international version of TikTok is controlled by the Chinese internet company ByteDance, the creators of the platform globally outside China. TikTok is the overseas version of its Chinese app Douyin, and ByteDance owns both platforms. The app was conceived by Zhang Yiming, the former CEO of ByteDance, in China.

TikTok is particularly popular among the youth, with 52% of 16-25 year-olds in France having an account in 2021 (Statista). The cover photo for this article is by Solen Feyissa, capturing a snapshot of this vibrant community.

To create a video, users simply press the "+" button. The "Discover" page, on the other hand, allows them to search for trending hashtags, contents, users, and songs. The "Friends" tab, meanwhile, offers a more personalised experience, showcasing the content of the people they are following.

While TikTok sets an age limit of 13 years old worldwide, it's easy to access the platform by lying about one's age. In China, however, the national version of the application, called Douyin, is more educational and highly regulated. Minors under the age of 14 in China are subject to a "youth mode," showing them educational and fun content related to science, history, art, etc. China also limits the daily consultation time for minors under the age of 14 to 40 minutes and restricts access between 22h and 6h.

Concerns have been raised about the potential impact of TikTok on cognitive development in children and adolescents. The algorithm on TikTok is suspected of delaying the development of cognitive functions. However, dance and music, a significant part of TikTok's content, can also foster creativity and self-expression.

ByteDance, the Chinese tech giant, acquired Musical.ly in November 2017, which was the predecessor of TikTok. TikTok reserves the right to ban an account if it suspects it is being used by a minor under the age of 13.

We encourage readers to share this article, fostering a broader understanding of TikTok and its impact on young users. For more insights, refer to TikTok's Terms of Use, Euronews' article about Douyin's restrictions for minors under the age of 14, and Developpez's article about the "TikTok Brain" phenomenon.