Whistleblowers Claim TikTok and Meta's Algorithmic Focus Compromised User Safety for Engagement

Social Media Giants Face Allegations of Compromising Safety for Engagement

Meta and TikTok, two of the world's largest social media companies, have been accused of prioritizing engagement over user safety in their algorithm-driven platforms.

Internal Reviews Show Increase in Harmful Content

According to a dozen whistleblowers and insiders, internal reviews at Meta (which owns Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp) and TikTok revealed an increase in sexual blackmail, terrorism, and violence, but these concerns were allegedly ignored in favor of boosting engagement. An engineer at Meta claimed that he was instructed to allow "borderline" harmful content to pass through the platform's algorithms because the company's stock price was down.

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Prioritization of Engagement over Safety

TikTok was also accused of prioritizing reports from politicians over posts that put children at risk. A TikTok employee showed the publication the platform's internal dashboard, which revealed that staff were instructed to prioritize certain types of content over others. This prioritization allegedly led to a decrease in the effectiveness of moderation teams, which were already struggling to protect children and teens from harm.

Allegations of Misaligned Priorities

Senior Meta researcher Matt Motyl revealed that Instagram Reel, a direct competitor to TikTok, was launched in 2020 without adequate safeguards. Internal research showed that Reel had more instances of bullying, harassment, hate speech, and incitement to violence compared to other spaces on the platform. Facebook was aware of these problems but allegedly chose to focus on an algorithm that offered maximum profits at the expense of audience well-being.

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Consequences of Prioritizing Engagement

TikTok has been accused of relying too heavily on its algorithm, which is a "black box" that is difficult to scrutinize. The platform's safety teams were allegedly denied resources to moderate content effectively, leading to an increase in harmful content. A former TikTok employee, Ruofan Ding, acknowledged that the algorithm was refined on a weekly basis, but this refinement did not necessarily lead to better safety outcomes.

Company Responses

TikTok has denied the allegations, claiming that they are "fabricated" and that the company has invested in technology to prevent the viewing of harmful content. Meta has also denied the claims, stating that any suggestion that the company deliberately amplifies harmful content for financial gain is "wrong."

Key Figures and Dates

• 700 staff assigned to Reels growth
• 2 specialists denied to help moderate content harmful to children
• 10 staff denied to help with elections coverage
• 2020: Instagram Reel launched without adequate safeguards
• 2020-2024: Ruofan Ding served as a machine-learning engineer on TikTok's recommendation engine