What specific TikTok account settings concern the EU regarding child safety?

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EU Raises Concerns Over TikTok's Default Account Settings for Minors

The European Union has expressed significant concerns regarding TikTok's default account settings for minors, citing that these settings expose children to risks such as cyberbullying and predatory behaviour. The EU's preliminary findings indicate that current default configurations allow minors' accounts and content to be visible too widely, failing to meet the high standard of protection mandated by the Digital Services Act (DSA). Brussels has specifically instructed TikTok to modify these default settings for minors' "public" accounts to ensure they are only accessible to approved users.
Inadequate Privacy for Minors' Accounts

The EU's investigation revealed that TikTok's current account settings do not adequately protect minors. A key issue is that minors can make their accounts public, allowing any user, regardless of whether they have a TikTok account, to view their content. This broad visibility increases the potential for unwanted contact and exposure to harmful individuals.
Easy Discoverability Despite Private Settings

Even when children opt to make their accounts private, the EU found that these accounts can still be easily discovered through the "following" and "followers" lists of other users. This mechanism bypasses the intended privacy of a private account, leaving minors vulnerable to being found and contacted by individuals they have not explicitly approved.
Non-Compliance with Digital Services Act Standards

Brussels has stated that TikTok's account settings fail to meet the standards set forth by the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA mandates that children's accounts should have the strongest safety and security protections by default. The EU's preliminary view is that TikTok's current settings, by allowing public visibility and easy discoverability, do not adhere to this requirement, thus potentially exposing minors to a range of risks.
Demand for Default Privacy Adjustments

In response to these findings, Brussels has formally requested that TikTok adjust the default settings for minors' "public" accounts. The directive is for these accounts to be visible only to users that the child has personally accepted. This measure aims to ensure that children's online interactions are managed by them or their guardians, rather than being broadly exposed by default platform configurations.

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What specific TikTok account settings concern the EU regarding child safety?

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