What specific cyber risks does the EU cite for young TikTok users?

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The EU Cites Cyberbullying, Predatory Behaviour, and Unwanted Contact as Specific Cyber Risks for Young TikTok Users

The European Union has identified several specific cyber risks faced by young users on TikTok, including cyberbullying, predatory behaviour, and unwanted contact. These concerns stem from the platform's account settings, which the EU argues expose minors to these dangers by not defaulting to the highest level of privacy and security. The investigation, conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), found that minors' accounts and content can be too widely visible, even when set to private.
Cyberbullying and Predatory Behaviour Risks Identified

The EU's preliminary view highlights that minors' accounts and content on TikTok are exposed too widely. This broad visibility increases the likelihood of young users encountering cyberbullying and predatory behaviour. The investigation revealed that even private accounts can be easily discovered through the "following" and "followers" lists of other users, undermining the intended privacy protections.
Unwanted Contact Poses a Threat

Beyond more severe risks, the EU also cited unwanted contact as a significant cyber risk for young TikTok users. The platform's default settings, which allow accounts and content to be made public, facilitate such unwanted interactions. The EU's findings indicate that minors can make their accounts public, making their content accessible to anyone with or without a TikTok account.
Inadequate Default Privacy Settings

A core concern for the EU is that TikTok's default account settings for minors do not provide a high level of protection. The EU's Digital Services Act mandates that children's account settings should have the strongest safety and security protections by default, not as an opt-in feature. The investigation found that TikTok's settings failed to meet this standard, leading to the identified risks for underage users.

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What specific cyber risks does the EU cite for young TikTok users?

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