What are the Risks Lurking in TikTok? Introducing How to Respond When Defamed

TikTok, a social networking service (SNS) specializing in video content, is a huge hit, particularly among the younger generation.

Its unique feature is that, unlike Twitter which is text-based and Instagram which is photo-based, TikTok primarily focuses on video content.

It’s an SNS where both the broadcasters and viewers can enjoy singing and dancing individually or in groups. It’s not a platform for solitary entertainment, but rather one that encourages group participation, allowing video links to be shared within the group.

Due to the nature of its service, TikTok has been plagued with various issues, including defamation, and the damage is spreading, especially among the younger demographic.

So, what exactly are the personalityistics of TikTok, and what kind of risks does it pose?

Features of TikTok

TikTok[ja] was released in Japan in October 2017 (Heisei 29) and initially became a big hit among junior and senior high school girls. Gradually, it has gained support not only from the younger generation but also from a wide range of generations.

So, what kind of features does this TikTok, a social networking service (SNS), have?

TikTok Videos

TikTok is a platform for 15-second short movies where you can enjoy dancing or lip-syncing to the provided music.

The great appeal is the casualness that does not require special skills such as being able to play an instrument or being good at singing.

Furthermore, since video templates are provided on TikTok, users do not need to put in the effort to prepare music, making it easy to post videos.

While YouTube is also about video content, the 15-second TikTok videos have a higher chance of being viewed by more people and receiving more ‘likes’ than YouTube.

TikTok Features

TikTok has several unique features. With the ‘Duet Function’ and ‘Reaction Function’, you can enjoy lip-syncing and dancing even more.

The ‘Duet Function’ allows you to line up your video with a video posted by another user, giving you the feeling of lip-syncing or dancing together side by side.

Not only can you enjoy it with your friends, but you can also duet with idols and YouTubers.

The ‘Reaction Function’ allows you to post a video of yourself watching another user’s video. This allows you to convey your reactions while watching the video, and it can be used as a communication tool.

Since it allows for interactive exchanges, it has become a popular feature.

Saving TikTok Videos

Videos posted on TikTok can be saved.

You can enjoy watching them over and over again, and if you can’t imitate difficult lip-syncing or dancing just by watching it once, you can watch the video again and practice as many times as you want.

The saved videos can also be reposted to other SNS, making it possible for more people to enjoy them.

The Dangers of TikTok: Three Examples

There are several hidden dangers lurking within TikTok.

Age Issues

While the low barrier to entry is one of TikTok’s attractions, it has repeatedly raised issues regarding age.

In TikTok’s Safety Center’s “For Parents[ja]“, it is stated that:

• TikTok is an app intended for users aged 13 and over, and is not to be used by children under 13
• If an account is found to be used by a child under 13, that account will be terminated
• The feature to send and receive direct messages is only available to users aged 16 and over

These are the restrictions.

However, these rules are not strictly enforced. In January 2021 (Reiwa 3), a tragic incident occurred in Palermo, Italy, where a 10-year-old girl died from strangulation after watching a video about the “fainting game”, which involves intense physical pressure until one loses consciousness.

In Italy, it is prohibited for children under 14 to register for social media without parental consent. However, TikTok has been criticized for allowing easy registration even for those under 14, and this incident occurred shortly after they were notified to make improvements.

Similar problems could occur in Japan as well.

Furthermore, because they are children, there is a high risk of them carelessly leaking personal information, which is another danger pointed out.

Spread on SNS

Videos posted on TikTok can be saved and easily reposted on other SNS, which means that your face and figure could be exposed in places you did not intend by third parties.

If you search for TikTok video compilations on YouTube, you will find videos like “Cute Kids Compilation” and “Top 50 Ranking Collection” that have edited dozens of videos.

On the other hand, there are also videos like “TikTok Embarrassing History Collection” and “Misunderstood Ugly Collection”, and even if such defamatory or obscene videos are deleted from TikTok, they will remain on the internet forever.

There are many videos that mock the original poster using the duet feature, and it has been pointed out that they are being used for bullying.

Such posts could potentially lead to serious harassment.

Related article: Responding to Cyberbullying: Minors as Victims of Reputational Damage Litigation[ja]

Progression to Crime

Looking at users’ profile sections, many list their real names and the areas they live in, or mention the names of their filming locations in the comments section, allowing viewers to easily learn about their living areas.

Even if you’re not that careless, there are cases where the poster’s home or filming location can be identified from the scenery shown in the videos posted on TikTok.

With advances in image analysis technology, it is now possible to identify filming locations and the poster themselves from just a slight reflection, or by comparing multiple photos.

Also, your school can be identified from the uniform you wear in the video, and even your address and real name can be identified.

In videos compiled on YouTube under titles like “TikTok High School Girls’ Uniform Too Cute!”, there are many videos of girls dancing in school uniforms or gym clothes that seem to be designated by the school, and many of them are filmed inside the school.

Even if the individuals think they are cleverly hiding or disguising their information, they can easily be identified by experienced people like the so-called “identification squad”, exposing their personal information and potentially leading to stalking, which is very dangerous.

TikTok is a face-showing video platform, and because the age of the users can be almost accurately guessed, there are many adult men using it for the purpose of meeting people.

It is a fact that there are inappropriate posts suggesting meetings in the comment sections of videos of girls who appear to be elementary school students.

In such cases, even if the individual ignores it, if their personal information is identified, it could lead to sexual crimes.

Reasons Why Defamation Occurs Easily on TikTok

Just as we need to be aware of these risks, we must also pay attention to defamation on TikTok.

Compared to other video sharing sites like YouTube, TikTok has a unique feature where the more comments a video has, the higher its rating becomes. This makes it more likely to appear in viewers’ recommendations and spread more easily.

Because TikTok allows anonymous comments, there are many cases where users feel they can say anything, leading to defamation with extreme words.

Even if the person making the defamatory comments does so casually, the person on the receiving end can be deeply hurt.

To prevent such situations, it would be beneficial to take measures like the ones listed below.

Measures Against the Risks of TikTok

While TikTok carries various risks, you can prevent troubles by setting up in advance as follows.

Private Account Settings

To enhance the safety of TikTok, it is possible to set your account to private and enjoy it only among close friends.

Open the app, tap the human-shaped icon at the bottom right, tap the three-dot icon at the top right, and open the settings screen.

When you turn on “Privacy Settings” → “Private Account”, the private account setting is complete.

Although it’s a simple measure, many people feel that making their account private halves the fun of TikTok.

For detailed instructions, please check the TikTok official website[ja].

Limiting Comment Input and Video Download

For the videos you post, you may receive negative reactions. Since there are a certain number of people who enjoy TikTok for the purpose of slander, it is recommended to limit who can comment and message you.

In “Privacy Settings”, it is recommended to set “Who can comment on my videos” and “Who can send me messages”.

For detailed instructions, please check the TikTok official website[ja].

Also, if you allow an unspecified number of people to download your videos, there is a high risk of being used in malicious “TikTok compilations” and being spread unintentionally.

Therefore, it is safe to limit “Who can download my videos” in the same “Privacy Settings”.

Related article: Explaining the potential problems and countermeasures of unauthorized filming of YouTube videos[ja]

Parental Control

Parental control is a feature designed to protect children from crime and trouble when primarily underage users use TikTok.

You set it in “Parental Control” in the previously mentioned “Settings and Privacy”.

Parents also need to create a TikTok account and link it, but by setting a four-digit password, children cannot change the settings on their own.

This allows you to manage the use time of TikTok, exclude inappropriate video content for minors by filtering video content, and prevent receiving DMs from an unspecified number of people by limiting the range of direct message (DM) reception.

For detailed instructions, please check the TikTok official website[ja].

How to Respond to Defamation on TikTok

Even if you take measures against defamation on TikTok, it does not mean that you will never be subjected to defamation.

It is advisable to understand in advance what you can do if you are defamed.

Response ①: Report within TikTok

As an immediate response, there is a reporting function within the TikTok app.

If you are being defamed in the comments section of your video, press and hold the relevant comment and select “Report”.

If you are being defamed by a video posted by a third party, select “Report” from the video’s share button.

Other methods of reporting malicious DMs, hashtags, and users are explained on the official TikTok website[ja].

Response ②: Consult a Defamation Consultation Service

For professional third-party consultation, the most accessible services are those set up by the government and administrative agencies. The following are representative examples:

• “Illegal and Harmful Information Consultation Center” (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)[ja]
• “Internet Human Rights Consultation Reception Desk” (Ministry of Justice)[ja]
• “Cyber Crime Consultation Desk” (Police)[ja]

These services provide information on how to remove malicious posts and identify the poster.

However, they only provide consultation and advice, so you will need to carry out the actual removal request procedures yourself.

Response ③: Consult a Lawyer

If your post is not removed even after applying to TikTok, the most effective measure is to consult a lawyer and take legal action.

If the post is found to be illegal, you can apply for a provisional injunction in court, which allows you to forcibly remove it. Applying for a provisional injunction requires specialized knowledge, so it is most reliable to consult a legal expert, a lawyer.

Summary: Consult a Lawyer for Troubles on TikTok

In response to the question, “Is TikTok dangerous?”, the only answer is, “TikTok does have many risks.”

However, it is possible to deal with these numerous risks.

Furthermore, these risks are common to other social networking services (SNS) as well. It’s not that TikTok is particularly dangerous.

While it is necessary to be considerate as the users are mainly young people and there are many children, it might be good to treat it as one of the SNS, with the mindset that it is an opportunity to learn about internet literacy and a teaching material.

If an actual trouble occurs, it is important to take appropriate legal measures before it escalates. To minimize the damage, consult a lawyer promptly for troubles on TikTok.

Related article: What are the legal issues with unauthorized video reprints? Explaining the precedent of portrait rights infringement[ja]

Introduction to Our Firm’s Measures

Monolith Law Office is a legal office with high expertise in both IT, particularly the internet, and law. In recent years, information related to reputational damage and defamation spread on the internet has been causing serious harm as a “digital tattoo”. Our firm provides solutions for dealing with these “digital tattoos”. Details are provided in the article below.

Areas of practice at Monolith Law Office: Digital Tattoo[ja]