TikTok expands AI tools to crack down on underage users, strengthen teen safety

TikTok has announced new and improved efforts to detect and remove underage users, unveiling expanded use of AI-powered age detection and stricter enforcement policies.

The development comes at a time when global scrutiny over teen safety on social media has intensified.

In a detailed update, the ByteDance-owned short video platform reiterated that the minimum age to use TikTok is 13, and it now employs a multi-layered verification system to identify users who may have misrepresented their age.

“If someone fails to meet our minimum age, we suspend their ability to immediately re-create an account using a different date of birth,” TikTok explained.

The platform revealed that its AI age-qualification system, which has been piloted in the UK, has already helped remove thousands of under-13 accounts.

TikTok now plans to expand this technology across the European Union and other regions, pending discussions with privacy regulators.

Beyond AI, TikTok’s human moderation teams are trained to flag accounts suspected of belonging to minors.

If moderators detect potential underage activity while reviewing content, they can escalate it to a specialised review team.

“When in doubt, we will remove an account we suspect may be under 13,” the company said, adding that anyone can report suspected underage accounts, even without having a TikTok profile.