TikTok Takes Aim at Cyberbullying with New Comment Care Mode

TikTok has introduced a new feature called “Comment Care Mode,” aimed at protecting users from anti-bullying actions. This discovery was made by Jonah Manzano, a Social Media Enthusiast, who shared it on Twitter/X. The screenshot he posted indicates that users can access the new feature through Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Comments.

While attempting to verify this information, I personally observed that the “Comment Care Mode” feature is yet to be added on the web version of the app. This observation suggests that TikTok may have launched Comment Care Mode as its most recent effort to prioritise user well-being and foster a safer and more respectful environment within the app.

The introduction of the “Comment Care Mode” on TikTok is a positive step, especially given the prevalence of cyberbullying across various social media platforms. A report from Security.org highlights that users on platforms like YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook are particularly vulnerable to cyberbullying.

While this is proactive, a potentially more effective approach could involve notifying users about potentially offensive comments before they are posted. This way, users would be alerted and given a chance to reconsider their comments before they go live.

Regrettably, cyberbullying has numerous negative consequences, such as causing depression, infringing on freedom of expression and association, eroding self-esteem, and tragically, sometimes leading to the victim’s death. Over the past decade, this harmful behaviour has surged, especially among school-aged individuals who form a significant portion of TikTok’s user base.

TikTok’s Comment Care Mode will allow users to take control of their comments section by filtering out potentially hurtful or offensive comments. When activated, this mode automatically hides comments that TikTok’s system identifies as potentially violating the platform’s community guidelines, as shown in Manzano’s screenshot. The comment filters are based on three criteria. While the system isn’t perfect, it significantly reduces the chances of derogatory comments showing up in a user’s feed.

TikTok hasn’t released an official statement about this feature. We’ve contacted them for more details, but they haven’t responded yet.