Digital rights advocates and consumer protection groups in Bangladesh are sounding the alarm over TikTok’s content moderation practices, following global investigations that reveal the platform’s algorithm may be actively exposing minors to sexually explicit and self-harm-related content.
The revelations have intensified calls for regulatory action in Bangladesh, where youth engagement with social media is rapidly growing but digital literacy and safeguards remain limited.
A recent investigation by UK-based watchdog Global Witness found that TikTok’s search suggestions displayed adult-themed content even when accessed by accounts registered to 13-year-olds—the platform’s minimum age requirement.
Researchers created teenage profiles on factory-reset smartphones and observed that sexually suggestive videos and search terms were recommended within minutes, despite no prior browsing history.
The report described this as “algorithmic grooming,” suggesting that the platform’s recommendation system was not merely failing to block harmful content but was actively nudging minors toward it.
These findings align with a broader study by Amnesty International and the Algorithmic Transparency Institute, which showed that TikTok’s “For You” feed disproportionately serves mental health-related and potentially harmful content to young users.
In tests conducted across Kenya, the Philippines, and the United States, nearly half of the videos shown to 13-year-old “sock puppet” accounts involved themes of self-harm or suicide, ten times the volume served to accounts with no such interest.
In Bangladesh, where TikTok has become one of the most popular platforms among youth, the implications are particularly serious.
SM Nazer Hossain, vice president of the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB), told Dhaka Tribune that the platform’s harmful influence has been “an open secret” for years.
“We’ve seen suicides, gambling, and even money laundering linked to TikTok misuse. The government must act now, not just to regulate, but to protect the next generation,” he said.
Hossain urged the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the Ministry of Information to adopt child protection standards similar to those in the UK, such as nighttime notification bans, guided content filters, and stricter age verification protocols.
He also emphasized the need for transparency from TikTok and other platforms operating in Bangladesh, calling for regular audits and public reporting on content moderation practices.
Despite TikTok’s claims that it operates more than 50 safety and privacy features for teenage users, including parental controls, content filters, and default private profiles, critics argue that these measures are insufficient and largely reactive.
TikTok’s own Q1 2025 transparency report revealed that 30% of all removed videos were flagged for “sensitive or adult themes,” and that six million underage accounts are deleted monthly using AI-based age verification tools.
However, experts say these systems remain opaque and inconsistent.
The issue has taken on new urgency globally.
In France, the judiciary has launched a criminal investigation into TikTok’s algorithm, citing risks of “incitement to suicide” among teenagers.
The probe follows a parliamentary report that accused the platform of weak moderation, easy access for minors, and algorithmic manipulation that could push vulnerable youths toward self-harm.
Similar lawsuits are underway in the United States, where parents allege that TikTok’s design “preys on teenage vulnerability.”
In Bangladesh, digital safety experts warn that the country’s young population is particularly at risk.
With over 40 million internet users under the age of 25 and limited digital literacy education in schools, the potential for harm is significant.
“The danger isn’t just what young people are seeing,” said one cyber policy analyst.
“It’s what the algorithm is choosing to show them, and why.”
The lack of a comprehensive digital safety framework in Bangladesh further complicates the issue.
While the BTRC has occasionally issued warnings or temporary bans on platforms, there is no dedicated legislation addressing algorithmic accountability, child protection in digital spaces, or platform transparency.
Experts argue that this regulatory vacuum leaves children vulnerable to exploitation and psychological harm.
They are urging the government to establish a national digital safety commission, introduce mandatory child protection standards for tech platforms, and invest in digital literacy programs for students, parents, and educators.
They also recommend collaboration with international watchdogs and rights groups to ensure that global best practices are adapted to Bangladesh’s context.
As global scrutiny of TikTok intensifies, the platform continues to defend its practices, stating that it complies with community guidelines and removes inappropriate content proactively.
However, in Bangladesh, neither TikTok nor the BTRC has issued an official statement in response to the latest findings, despite mounting public concern.
