Social network site TikTok fuels bullies, self-harm and paedophilia with victims as young as 10
POLICE have probed hundreds of crimes involving paedophilia, self-harm and bullying linked to social networking site TikTok.
A Sun on Sunday investigation found children as young as ten have been victims.
A girl of 13 was sent indecent images and asked for nude snaps.
Kids are harassed and urged to self-harm or even kill themselves.
Chinese-owned TikTok — the world’s most downloaded app, with more than a billion users — is particularly popular with
children who love the fun clips shared on it.
It has a minimum age of 13, but does not require proof.
A Freedom of Information request revealed cops in England and Wales were called over incidents on it 142 times last year. But that total is likely much higher as forces including London, Thames Valley, Kent and Essex did not give figures and Greater
Manchester did not respond.
The coronavirus lockdown has since seen a huge surge in use.
Campaigner John Carr, a former government adviser on online child safety, said: “TikTok is no place for children and these cases remind us why.”
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David Spencer, of the Centre for Crime Prevention, added:
“The TikTok trend is deeply troubling, and not just because of the links to the Chinese regime. Safeguards that the site does have in place are woefully inadequate. All parents should think extremely carefully before allowing children to use TikTok.”
TikTok insisted: “Keeping our community safe is a top priority. We are constantly strengthening policies.”
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