TikTok policy chief defends safety measures amid EU push to limit children's social media access

In response to growing scrutiny from European regulators, TikTok's policy chief has reaffirmed the platform's dedication to ensuring the safety of young users. Ali Law, the director of public policy and government affairs for Northern Europe, emphasized during an interview with CNBC that TikTok was designed with a focus on safety. "We are acutely aware of the concerns expressed by both parents and policymakers regarding children's interaction with social media," Law stated on "Squawk Box Europe". He highlighted the importance of fostering a healthy relationship between young people and the app, citing the various benefits it offers. This declaration comes as global governments, including those in Australia, the U.K., France, Greece, and Spain, are considering new measures aimed at enhancing online safety for minors. Australia notably became the first nation to impose a legal ban on certain social media practices targeting children. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently announced that the EU is moving forward with initiatives to limit children's social media engagement, which may include establishing age restrictions for platform access. This decision follows the recommendations from a specialized panel focusing on child safety online. "In Europe, we believe it is the responsibility of parents to raise their children, not the influence of predatory algorithms," Von der Leyen remarked. She reiterated that while parents must ultimately decide when their children can have smartphones, there is a growing consensus on the necessity of setting a minimum age for social media participation. Earlier in the year, Von der Leyen had suggested that the EU would take a stand against TikTok's addictive features, such as infinite scrolling and autoplay. Law noted that TikTok has implemented over 50 preset safety settings for users under 16, which include screen time limits and reminders to take breaks. While these safety measures serve as warnings, younger users still retain the option to continue using the platform. Additionally, TikTok restricts direct messaging and commercial activities for users under this age threshold. "These features are designed to encourage a balanced and healthy usage of our app, which is in our best interest as well," Law explained, adding that TikTok invested $2 billion in trust and safety initiatives last year. In light of recent legal challenges, TikTok reached a settlement concerning claims that social media platforms, including Instagram and YouTube, negatively impact the mental health of young users. In a notable legal case, Meta and Google faced a jury ruling that they were negligent in warning users about the risks associated with their platforms' design.