Scotland: South Lanarkshire Council Ban Popular App TikTok

Popular app, Tiktok has been banned by schools in Hamilton.

The decision by South Lanarkshire Council in Scotland was made with the intention of stopping pupils using school equipment to create videos for the social media platform, which has exploded in popularity in recent years.

An investigation by a tabloid newspaper revealed that 19 of Scotland’s 32 councils have now blocked the app from being used in schools, including in South Lanarkshire.

The move follows concerns that young users can view harmful content on the platform.

South Lanarkshire Council’s head of education Carole McKenzie said: “This is an app that is filtered on our school networks so no pupil can use any school-based equipment to create videos.

“While we are not able to restrict what pupils do on their own phones and devices using 4G mobile data that is not linked to the school network, we do share online safety messages highlighting the dangers associated with some of the apps available and encourage responsible use of the internet.”

TikTok was founded in September 2016, and currently boasts over a billion users online.

One in four people in Britain now use the service, creating and sharing short videos. However, concerns have been raised that the platform makes it easy to bully other youngsters, or that they may be sent upsetting videos.

Andy Burrows, NSPCC head of Child Safety Online, said: “TikTok has taken some steps to protect children on its site, including no direct messaging for under-16s.

“But there is still a real risk that upsetting and harmful content will be recommended to young users on this platform.

“This may be particularly challenging for TikTok as its algorithms are so effective at making content go viral, but the site has a responsibility to keep children safe and must find a way to overcome this. If it does not, then the UK Government’s imminent online harm laws must robustly tackle this and make TikTok accountable.”

A TikTok spokesman said: “TikTok was built to provide a positive place for creativity, and keeping our community safe is our top priority.

“We do not allow bullying on our platform, and have a zero-tolerance approach for predatory or grooming behaviour toward minors.

“We take action when issues are bought to our attention, including permanently banning accounts and reporting illegal behaviour to relevant law enforcement.”

December 30, 2020