Exposed: TikTok's Alarming Live Feature Allows Teens as Young as 15 to Strip for Paying Adults

TikTok's Alarming Live Feature

TikTok has come under fire following revelations from an internal investigation that uncovered disturbing practices involving underage users. Reports indicate that kids as young as 15 were engaging in stripping on the platform's live feature, driven by adult users who paid them with virtual gifts, which are essentially real money converted into digital currency.

This alarming behavior was highlighted in a series of secret documents reviewed by NPR and Kentucky Public Radio, revealing that TikTok executives were aware of the potential dangers the app posed to young users but seemed indifferent to the consequences. The investigation, which was prompted by a report from Forbes, revealed that TikTok had identified a significant number of underage streamers receiving gifts in exchange for stripping.

This troubling trend has raised serious concerns about the safety and well-being of minors on the platform. In addition to these findings, TikTok's internal documents disclosed that the app can lead to addiction in as little as 35 minutes, with users forming habits after viewing just 260 videos. Kentucky authorities noted that while this may seem like a lot, TikTok videos are often only a few seconds long, making it easy for users to become hooked quickly.

Moreover, TikTok's algorithm has been shown to prioritize content featuring users deemed "attractive," actively reducing the visibility of those who do not fit this narrow beauty standard. This decision was made despite the potential negative impact on young users, as highlighted in the documents. Despite efforts to implement parental controls and time limits on usage, TikTok found that these measures had minimal effect on reducing screen time.

In fact, a project manager candidly admitted that the primary goal of these features was to improve public trust rather than genuinely limit usage. The documents also revealed that a staggering 95% of smartphone users under 17 engage with TikTok at least once a month, leading company staff to acknowledge that they had reached a saturation point among young users.

Furthermore, TikTok was aware that its platform interfered with essential aspects of life for many kids, including sleep and personal responsibilities. In response to these revelations, TikTok has faced criticism from advocacy groups and lawmakers, with bipartisan senators demanding further transparency regarding child safety on the app. TikTok's spokesperson has defended the company, claiming that the reports misrepresent their commitment to community safety. However, many believe that the internal documents expose a troubling reality about the platform's impact on children and teens.

Exposed: TikTok's Alarming Live Feature Allows Teens as Young as 15 to Strip for Paying Adults