- Italy’s AGCOM compelled TikTok to remove videos of the “French scar” challenge, part of a crackdown on harmful content.
- This marked the first enforcement of new regulations aimed at protecting minors.
- TikTok complied but faces global pressure alongside other social media platforms over child safety concerns.
Italy’s communications authority AGCOM stated on Friday it compelled TikTok to delete certain videos featuring young individuals engaging in the perilous “French scar” practice. The “French scar” challenge entails pinching one’s cheek to create a lasting bruise on the cheekbone, gaining popularity among young Italian TikTok users last year, leading to an inquiry by Italy’s antitrust authority.
AGCOM clarified that its decision marked the inaugural implementation of new regulations sanctioned in December, empowering the Italian watchdog to mandate the removal of “harmful content” on video-sharing platforms to safeguard minors and consumers. TikTok promptly removed the identified harmful videos within the prescribed five-day timeframe stipulated by the regulations, as affirmed by AGCOM.
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Measures have been already instituted
A TikTok spokesperson informed Reuters that the platform had already instituted measures, such as preventing content recommendation to users, and had geoblocked the videos in Italy as per AGCOM’s request. TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, along with other social media entities like Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms, faces regulatory pressure worldwide to shield children from harmful content on their platforms.
On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams disclosed that his administration initiated a lawsuit against social media corporations, including Facebook and Instagram, for exacerbating mental health crises among youth.
