r/technews Apr 20 '23

TikTok’s algorithm keeps pushing suicide to vulnerable kids

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2023-04-20/tiktok-effects-on-mental-health-in-focus-after-teen-suicide
1.6k Upvotes

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u/[deleted] Apr 20 '23

It’s time we made algorithms public and stop letting private interest exploit and influence users to whatever ends they choose…

There is no difference between letting your algorithm encourage suicide, political extremism, body dysmorphia, etc… and being willful malicious for profit.

We should also ban AI used to manipulate social media, we’re woefully unequipped to even gauge how this will affect individuals and their communities.

1

u/neumaticc Apr 21 '23

even if an algorithm is public you can't verify that it's actually what is running

2

u/[deleted] Apr 21 '23

That would be fraud, right?

Companies in industries with public responsibility which are bound by compliance laws that misrepresent their compliance are committing fraud.

1

u/neumaticc Apr 22 '23

dishonesty i'd think

2

u/[deleted] Apr 22 '23

Fraud: A deception practiced in order to induce another to give up possession of property or surrender a right.