Critical conversations on social media matter, says TikTok

TikTok Malaysia’s public policy head Anuar Fariz Fadzil speaking at a panel discussion at the University of Nottingham today.

KAJANG: Conversations about various critical issues are important on social media platforms and young people should be encouraged to take part in such discourses, says TikTok Malaysia’s public policy head Anuar Fariz Fadzil.

Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Surf’s up: deputies of digital literacy”, Anuar said it is essential to question decisions and have critical conversations on various issues, such as policy changes and societal problems.

“Society and governments need to be mature about this. I would like to think our audience is mature enough or is maturing. It doesn’t matter what your age is.”

Anuar was asked by the moderator about the social and moral responsibilities of a social media platform in creating better democratic spaces.

He also highlighted the importance of digital literacy among young children, who grow up with constant exposure to online messages.

“They will grow up with a screen in their hand. They will be inundated with so many messages — they need to be able to discern what is right and what is wrong.”

Anuar said TikTok’s community guidelines emphasise universal and local values, such as respecting elders and not being rude. These help create a safe and respectful space for discourse.

Earlier, during the panel discussion, Anuar also explained that TikTok uses a multi-pronged strategy to remove content that breaches community guidelines.

He said TikTok uses moderation technology to scan content and categorise it as acceptable, unacceptable or uncertain.

Anuar said human moderators will review content that the technology cannot definitively classify.

“This is where the human element still plays a role. I think the idea of context and the idea of getting a human to take a look at it is still very important for us right now until artificial intelligence gets better,” he said. - FMT