Tech 4/10: TikTok searches push 13-year-olds into porn

TikTok has been targeting users as young as 13 with sexually explicit content through suggested search terms, according to a new report.

TikTok searches direct young users to pornographic content

According to CNN, a new report found that TikTok has been directing young users to pornography through suggested search terms. Accordingly, as part of the investigation published on October 3, the nonprofit watchdog Global Witness said it set up seven new TikTok accounts in the UK posing as 13-year-olds – the minimum age to set up an account – on phones that had been factory reset and had no search history.

Tiktok searches are suggesting "highly sexual" content. (Source: CNN)

TikTok's support page, Global Witness, said TikTok's search suggestions were "highly sexual" for users who declared themselves 13 and browsed the app using "restricted mode," which "limits exposure to content that may be uncomfortable for everyone," including "sexually explicit content."

The report comes as both the UK and the US are pushing to better protect children online, and TikTok is facing allegations in lawsuits filed last year that the app harms the mental health of young users.

In its transparency report from January to March 2025, TikTok said about 30% of content removed from the platform for policy violations was due to sensitive and adult topics.

TikTok removes about 6 million underage accounts globally each month using a variety of age detection methods, including technology that detects when an account might be used by children under 13, according to a spokesperson. TikTok also trains moderation teams to spot signs that children under 13 might be using TikTok.

Meta will use user conversations with AI chatbots to sell products

Meta said users' conversations and interactions with Meta AI will soon be used to target them with more personalized ads. The program will take effect on December 16.

Meta already targets users with ads based on the content they post and click on, as well as the people they connect with on its social media platforms. That data allows Meta to infer what users are likely to buy.

Meta AI has 1 billion monthly users. (Photo: CNN)

In conversations with Meta's chatbot, however, users can directly tell the company what they're shopping for, their upcoming trip, or what problems they're having that the product can solve.

The company will also use data from Meta AI to help decide what type of content users will see on its site.

According to the company, Meta AI has 1 billion monthly users, although it is unclear how often these users interact. Users can chat with the chatbot via Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, or the standalone Meta AI app.

Amazon loses Vice President of Devices and CEO Advisory Board Member shortly after launch

Rob Williams, vice president of device software and services and a member of the elite internal group known as the S-team that advises CEO Andy Jassy, ​​has left his position and will leave Amazon entirely at the end of the year.

It is worth noting that the Vice President's departure announcement comes just days after the annual Equipment and Services Exhibition was held.

It's rare for members of the S-team, or senior leadership team, to leave because the group is considered a badge of honor within the company with special access to the CEO. Williams joined the 29-member S-team in late 2022 and has worked at Amazon for 12 years.

Vice President of Device Software and Services leaves position just days after organizing the annual Devices and Services Show. (Source: Reuters)

Rob Williams attended Amazon's device event earlier this week in New York, where the company introduced a slew of new products like a refreshed Echo voice assistant speaker, a color Kindle e-reader, and a Fire TV with improved screen quality.

The loss-making devices and services division has seen several rounds of layoffs as the company has scaled back production. Reuters reported in August that a multi-year project to update its Alexa voice assistant with built-in artificial intelligence has been slow to materialize and has no clear path to profitability, while Amazon is overhauling its Fire tablets with Android for the first time.

Minh Hoan

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/cong-nghe-4-10-tim-kiem-cua-tiktok-day-tre-13-tuoi-vao-noi-dung-khieu-dam-ar969198.html