TikTok announces number of removed content in Turkey

TikTok METAPSA (Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Pakistan, South Asia) Public Policy Director Emir Gelen made statements regarding the platform's data in Turkey and globally.

Stating that it is necessary to create a multi-faceted strategy to ensure safety on TikTok, where over 1 billion pieces of content are shared monthly, Gelen noted that 7 million 97 thousand 236 videos were removed from the platform in Turkey in the first half of the year for violating "community guidelines," adding, "98.67% of these videos were removed before being viewed by users, and 88.66% were deleted within 24 hours."

Emphasizing that they carry out this process both with artificial intelligence technology that enables automatic detection of rule violations and with their manual review teams consisting of more than 40 thousand people, Gelen reported that moderation teams also work every day to ensure that content on TikTok complies with "community guidelines."

Gelen said, "In the 7-month period covering January-July of this year, over 427 million TikTok accounts were closed globally. 379.7 million of these were accounts identified as fake. 41.8 million accounts were removed on suspicion of being under 13 years old. In addition to these, more than 7 million accounts were closed for violating our community guidelines."

"WE ARE DEVELOPING AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS TO DETECT FALSE AGE DECLARATIONS"

Providing information that TikTok publishes its "Safety and Transparency Report" globally every quarter and shares it with the public, Gelen continued as follows:

"According to the results presented in this report, a total of 7 million 97 thousand 236 videos were removed from the platform in Turkey in the first half of 2024 for violating our community guidelines. 98.67% of these videos were removed before being viewed by users, and 88.66% were deleted within 24 hours. According to the report's highlights, the rate of videos removed by automated moderation technologies for violating community guidelines increased from 62% to 80% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the proactive detection rate reached its highest level ever at 98.2%. The re-upload rate of removed videos decreased by half compared to the same period last year."

Gelen stated that TikTok's community guidelines ensure user safety on the platform and enhance the positive experience, explaining that these rules apply to all content and content creators on the platform.

Pointing out that there are standards on various topics in addition to the rules regarding what is permitted on TikTok, Gelen emphasized that these guidelines are constantly updated to prevent new risks and harms, and that as TikTok, they are determined to continue prioritizing investments in this area.

Drawing attention to the fact that they are carrying out many studies to prevent violations of the user age limit set at 13, Gelen said, "We are increasing security measures and testing advanced technologies such as age verification systems with artificial intelligence. We are developing automatic systems to detect false age declarations."

"EXPANDING OUR FAMILY PAIRING FEATURE IS AT THE TOP OF OUR PRIORITIES"

Emphasizing that this year has been dynamic and exciting for TikTok, Gelen reported that in Turkey, TikTok has gone beyond being just an entertainment platform and has gained broader meaning with digital education programs.

Stating that they are happy with the interest shown in English and technology lessons published under the "#TikTokLiveAcademy" umbrella, Gelen said, "One of the most talked-about topics this year was our 'family pairing' feature. I believe this tool, which was developed especially for young users to benefit from the platform safely, is an important step that strengthens TikTok's community-focused approach."

Expressing that TikTok's advertising solutions have also become a very powerful tool for brands, Gelen said that the platform acts as an important bridge for both users and the business world with content that understands user habits and is customized accordingly.

Stating that they encourage users' imagination and creativity more than ever, Gelen noted the following:

"Looking at 2025, we will continue to redefine entertainment, e-commerce, and talent discovery while making TikTok the most trusted brand. We will continue to remove barriers to talent discovery and democratize opportunities. We are constantly evolving, and the compass of this development is to be able to create value for our entire ecosystem. Furthermore, 2025 will be a year that focuses on children's safe internet use, not only in Turkey but all over the world. While lawmakers and enforcers take more decisive steps to ensure children's safety in the digital world, we will continue to be the pioneer of this mission.

By prioritizing the protection of children in the online environment above all else, we will keep the expansion of our 'family pairing' feature at the top of our priorities throughout 2025."