TikTok Algorithm Criticized For Bombarding Teens With Videos Of Suicide & Depression

Critics Slam TikTok Algorithm For Bombarding Teens With Videos Of Suicide & Depression

utilizes an addictive, opaque recommendation algorithm that bombards vulnerable teen users with an “endless stream” of harmful content related to suicide, anxiety, and depression, concerned critics alleged in a bombshell report published Thursday.

The lengthy exposé by Bloomberg Businessweek details several instances in which teen users purportedly faced a barrage of troubling content on their “For You” feeds.

This include the devastating case of 16-year-old Chase Nasca of Long Island, who died by suicide last year after being exposed to TikTok videos promoting suicide.

 

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Scrutiny of TikTok’s algorithm and ties to China have reached unprecedented heights in recent months – with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle calling for the app to be banned in the US.

Nasca’s TikTok account is still active – and his “For You” feed still displays an “endless stream of clips about unrequited love, hopelessness, pain and what many posts glorify as the ultimate escape: suicide,” according to Bloomberg.

In one case, a video that appeared on Nasca’s feed in February said, “Take the pain away. Death is a gift,” according to the report. The video surfaced just days before the first anniversary of his passing.

As recently as April, videos related to suicide and depression were still appearing on the account page.