How to keep yours and your friends' FYP safe.
Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide.
Since at least Sunday night, TikTok has been struggling to remove a graphic video of a man committing suicide on the video-sharing app.
Initially live-streamed on Facebook, the video has since been captured and plastered all over social media sites including Twitter and Instagram. After being reported, most platforms took the video down but TikTok has continued to struggle with removing the footage due to it being re-uploaded in different forms.
While the video-sharing app did manage to take down the original video, footage from it has since been incorporated into 'bait-and-switch' videos designed to upset and shock unaware users, particularly children.
These videos usually start like any other standard TikTok with the creator talking to the camera, but instead of following a popular trend, the video unexpectedly cuts to the graphic imagery.
A common video that is circulating initially shows a bearded man with long hair sitting at a desk before cutting to the footage. Many users on the app have filmed cautionary videos waring other users to be on the look-out for this man and to immediately scroll if they come across it.
Today the eSafety Commissioner and National Suicide Prevention Adviser released the attached joint statement, with additional guidance for parents, carers and educators on how to limit exposure to this type of content and minimise its harmful impacts.
"We would like to reiterate the point made by the National Suicide Prevention Adviser that 'content which includes explicit descriptions, images or footage of suicide, especially where methods are shown, have been linked to increases in suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and suicide deaths,'" she said.
"Please bear this in mind and exercise a high level of care when sharing any suicide related warning, news articles and other people’s posts on social media or other communication methods."
The Prime Minister also shared statments on Facebook and LinkedIn warning parents and young people of the risks of social media.
While TikTok is scrambling to remove all instances of this video, there are things you can do if you are worried about coming across it and ways to seek help if you already have.
How to avoid it.
Avoid TikTok
The best thing you can do in situations like these is just to avoid the app until everything is sorted out.
While it may not be your first choice it is the most reliable way you can assure that you don’t accidently come across graphic videos like this and risk boosting it.
It's always good to have a break from social media and our devices every so often, so maybe just for the next few days leave your phone in your bag or at home and focus on other things that bring you entertainment and joy.
Following
If you’d prefer to not take a break from the app, and viewing your favorite creators' content is something you look forward to, there are ways that you can filter your content so you only see what you’re comfortable with.
The best and easiest way you can do this is to select your 'Following' tab in the top left of your screen. I’m sure we all know how to use TikTok and select this option, but it is a great way to make sure you’re only seeing content from creators who you have subscribed to.
If you stick to your followers and avoid the For You Page over the next few days, you should be safe from any images you definitely don’t want to see.
Hashtags
If you haven’t built up a list of followers on your TikTok account but still want to be able to filter what you see, the next best thing are hashtags.
While these add-ons aren’t perfect, it can help you stick to content you’re actually interested in. The best way to use this function is to avoid hashtags that are popular right now as some creators will often hashtag a video with a reference that is totally unrelated to their video so that they make it onto the For You Page.
Stick to older hashtags or things you specifically want to see, like #dogsoftiktok because who on earth doesn’t want to look at videos of some cute doggos?
Image: TikTok
For You Page
If you’re worried about potentially coming across something graphic in the future, you will want to do everything you can to make sure your For You Page is actually showing you content that its meant 'for you'.
TikTok’s algorithm works by boosting whatever has a lot of interaction (usually likes, comments and shares). The problem with this is that sometimes you can come across content that you’re not a fan of, as the For You Page exposes you to content from people you don’t follow or even interact with.
You can, however, interact with certain kinds of content so that similar posts are primarily what you see. If, for example, you’re really interested in cleaning content and want your For You Page to be full of it, all you need to do is interact with posts that contain that content.
Comment, share and give a like to content you’re interested in so that your For You Page designs itself for you, specifically, and helps you avoid any graphic or destressing content.
If you need any more advice on cyber saftey, here at Student Edge we have heaps of other articles and tips to help you say safe online.
What to do if you come across distressing content.
Report it
Whether you’re on TikTok, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, sometimes you may come across images or videos of things that you don’t want to see or hear. If this happens the first thing you want to do is report the content to the platform that you’re on to minimise its risk of upsetting other users.
You can find exact instructions on how to report something on TikTok here.
Support services
If something you have seen online has left you distressed or feeling anxious you can always talk to a trusted adult, friend or professional.
Speak to your parents, a friend or a trusted teacher so that they can help you take the right steps for support.
If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to someone you know you can always use online or telephone support support services.
TikTok provides access to hotlines directly from their app in their Safety Centre or in Australia you can call the Kids Helpline, a free counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25 on 1800 55 1800.
If you or someone you know is struggling and needs support you can also contact Australia’s crisis support service Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Other helpful services include:
§ Suicide Callback Service. 1300 659 467. Phone support all day, every day, and follow-up calls.
§ eHeadspace. 1800 650 890. Open 9am-1am daily (AEST).
§ Beyondblue. 1300 22 4636. Phone support all day, every day. Online support 3pm-midnight every day.
Header Image: Drew Angerer / Staff via Getty Images
"avoid it" - Google News
September 09, 2020 at 10:37AM
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TikTok is Struggling to Remove a Violent Viral Video: Here's How You Can Avoid It - studentedge.org
"avoid it" - Google News
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