U.S. Senators Question TikTok’s Decision to Disable Safety Features for 15 Million Users

Two U.S. senators have demanded answers regarding TikTok’s decision to disable a safety feature affecting 15 million American users as part of the company’s testing. Senators criticized TikTok’s leaders, including CEO Shou Zi Chew and U.S. head Adam Pressler, calling the decision highly irresponsible. The safety feature, which limited exposure to videos related to depression, suicide, and loneliness, was turned off during the test, which included 16-year-old Chase Nash in the trial group.

The safety concerns intensified after a 16-year-old teenager involved in the test later died by suicide, raising further scrutiny of TikTok. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal wrote directly to Shou Zi Chew and Adam Pressler, condemning the company’s decision as negligent.

According to Bloomberg, TikTok knowingly disabled a safety feature for 10 percent of its U.S. users designed to reduce the visibility of potentially harmful content related to mental health issues such as depression, suicide, and loneliness. The company reportedly intended to study whether this change affected how often people used the app.

The senators posed 13 questions to TikTok, seeking details including the names of employees aware of the trial, why minors were included in the testing, and a full account of other instances where safety features have been turned off or delayed in the U.S. TikTok was given a deadline of September 1 to respond. The company has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.