Digitisation minister demands that TikTok and EU take action against 'SkinnyTok' videos
Belgian minister of digitisation Vanessa Matz demands action from online platform TikTok and European authorities against “SkinnyTok”, the TikTok trend that promotes being extremely slim among youngsters. Matz wants such phenomena to be recognised as “systemic risks” under the European Digital Services Act (DSA).
Several media outlets have in recent days reported on the “SkinnyTok” phenomenon, which is going viral on TikTok. It glorifies being extremely skinny, with dangerous diets and unrealistic body images. The platform's algorithm promotes such videos, which are viewed en masse by young people.
Minister Matz is now sounding the alarm. "SkinnyTok is not just a trend or a hashtag, it becomes through algorithms a spiral that traps young people in a harmful view of their bodies, which can lead to very serious and dangerous behaviour,” she said in a press release. “Allowing this content to circulate freely means turning a blind eye to a risk. Platforms must be held accountable for managing their algorithms.”
"SkinnyTok traps young people in a harmful view of their bodies"
The minister is therefore turning to the DSA, which contains harmonised rules at the European level and imposes a stronger responsibility on large platforms in terms of risk management. For example, they must annually analyse the systemic risks of their services in terms of public health, disinformation, hate speech and violations of basic rights, and protect users against them.
No strict regulation
Minister Matz now wants phenomena that promote dangerous eating habits, such as “SkinnyTok,” to be recognised as a systemic risk. Matz thereby demands “concrete measures, in consultation with the European Commission and the competent Belgian authorities, such as the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT).”
According to Matz, TikTok claims that it moderates content that promotes dangerous eating habits, but the reality is that there is no strict regulation. Matz denounces that the platform only displays information pages about eating disorders without preventing the mass distribution of harmful content.
Belgian minister Vanessa Matz in the federal parliament in Brussels © BELGA PHOTO BELGIAN_FREELANCE
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