TikTok research finds teens exposed to harmful content

Nicholas Alexander on December 19, 2022

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In 2022, TikTok faced many issues, with security issues coming in the first place.

A recent study raises the possibility that it might negatively affect young users.

After kids create an account on the video-sharing app, it may begin to promote inappropriate material regarding eating disorders and suicide.

The outcomes are expected to fuel the fires as TikTok’s issues worsen, especially in light of how it impacts young users.

The study

The charity Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) released a report on Wednesday.

They discovered that it takes less than three minutes to watch content on TikTok about body image and suicide after signing up.

Users can find a community on the app that promotes information about eating disorders five minutes later.

The researchers claim that they created eight more accounts in the US.

New TikTok users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia must be at least 13 years old.

The accounts took a little break and liked content about mental health and body image.

Every 39 seconds throughout the course of a 30-minute period, TikTok suggested videos about mental health and body image, according to the CCDH.

TikTok woes

The study is being released as local, state, and federal officials look into potential sanctions for TikTok, particularly concerning privacy and security concerns.

They are also evaluating the app’s safety for teenagers.

The study was made available to the public more than a year after senators questioned executives from social media companies during congressional hearings.

They were worried that the harmful content that would be shared on their platforms would expose younger users, particularly adolescent girls, to their mental health and self-esteem.

Following hearings and disclosures by Facebook leaker Frances Haugen, the companies decided to tighten their control over teenagers.

The CCDH study, however, indicates that more work has to be done.

“The results are every parent’s nightmare,” said Imran Ahmed, the CEO of the CCDH.

“Young people’s feeds are bombarded with harmful, harrowing content that can have a significant cumulative impact on their understanding of the world around them and their physical and mental health.”

Response

In response to the study’s publication, a TikTok official claimed that it was incorrect for a number of reasons, including:

Small sample size
The limited 30-minute window for testing
How the accounts scrolled past unrelated topics to find other content

“This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behavior or viewing experiences of real people,” said the spokesperson.

“We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need.”

“We’re mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics.”

The representative claims that the CCDH doesn’t differentiate between positive and negative videos on particular issues, noting that people frequently share inspiring stories of conquering eating disorders.

Safeguards

TikTok asserts that it is constantly enhancing user protections.

For instance, the app now has filters that may exclude explicit or “possibly harmful” videos.

TikTok developed a “maturity score” in July to identify videos with potentially mature or advanced content.

Additionally, users may choose how long they want to spend watching TikTok videos, regularly schedule screen breaks, and access a dashboard that shows information like how often they use the app.

Additionally, TikTok offers a number of parental restrictions.

Algorithm

The US Senator Richard Blumenthal’s office faked a 13-year-old girl’s Instagram account last year.

The account was followed by posts regarding dieting and eating disorders (which are supposed to be banned).

Blumenthal claims that the account began to be elevated to accounts with more extreme diets.

Instagram later deleted the accounts because it had violated its policies against encouraging eating disorders.

Policy violations

According to TikTok, it is forbidden to post anything that suggests suicide or other self-destructive behavior or that normalizes, normalizes, or glorifies such behavior.

The information below shows videos that were taken down for breaking the laws against self-harm and suicide between April and June 2022:

93.4% were removed at zero views
91.5% were removed 24 hours after being posted
97.1% were removed before anyone reported them

The representative claims that anyone looking for prohibited terms like “#selfharm” won’t come up with anything.

They will be recommended to local aid programs instead.

Despite the assurances, the CCDH argues that additional steps are required to limit some content and enhance protection for individuals under 18.

“This report underscores the urgent need for reform of online space,” said Ahmed.

“Without oversight, TikTok’s opaque platform will continue to profit by serving its users – children as young as 13, remember – increasingly intense and distressing content without checks, resources or support.”

Reference:

TikTok may push potentially harmful content to teens within minutes, study finds

Jason David Frank details emerge following his death

Nicholas Alexander on December 5, 2022

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Jason David Frank died early, and his absence left a hole in millions who grew up watching him in Power Rangers.

Last month, the actor’s representative confirmed his death.

Once the news came out, tribute after tribute came from the fans.

Jason David Frank’s cause of death was recently revealed, with confirmation from his wife, Tammie.

A hero to millions

Jason David Frank is best known for the Power Rangers TV series and movies, in which he played Tommy Oliver.

The news of his death sparked thousands of tributes as people mourned the loss of the childhood hero they pretended to be in backyards.

Many have shared their stories of meeting Jason David Frank at events, describing him as a positive person.

The actor’s latest project, Legend of the White Dragon, is set to release next year after a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Confirmation

Tammie Frank, the wife of David Frank, recently opened up about her husband’s death.

She also confirmed that suicide was the cause of death.

Speaking to People magazine, Tammie Frank revealed that Jason David Frank took his own life over a weekend when the couple was hoping to revive their relationship.

What happened

Tammie Frank has revealed the couple originally planned to go their separate ways after a tough year.

However, before her husband died, they canceled the plans.

So instead, they worked to get back together.

According to Tammie, Jason David Frank planned a weekend getaway after his friends reminded him that they still loved each other.

Over the weekend, they attended a country dancing event.

After the dance, the couple had a warm and moving conversation in David Frank’s hotel room.

However, Tammie said she went to the lobby to bring them snacks.

When she returned ten minutes later, Jason David Frank did not answer the door.

Unable to get even a response, someone called the police.

Upon entering, they discovered that Jason had taken his life.

The statements

“My name is Tammie Frank, and my husband was Jason David Frank, who tragically lost his life to suicide just last week,” Tammie started.

“While Jason was a well-known name to some, we lived a normal life with ups and downs, just like anyone else.”

“It has shocked and saddened me beyond belief to see that the media has turned my family’s tragedy into a tall tale.”

“Since Jason’s death, I have been harassed online and can no longer stand to watch my husband’s good name slandered,” she continued.

Tammie Frank concluded the talk by saying:

“All we want is to remember Jason and our happiest memories and move on from the pain of losing a loved one.”

“I only ask for sympathy and understanding during this difficult time,” she added.

“To all the fans and supporters of Jason and our family, thank you for your kind words and wishes, and God bless you all.”

Reference:

Power Rangers star Jason David Frank’s wife confirms his cause of death as suicide

Photographer Sania Khan Shot Dead After Husband Drives from Georgia to Chicago to “Salvage Marriage”

Nicholas Alexander on July 23, 2022

On Monday afternoon, a man from Georgia traveled to Chicago, where he killed his wife before shooting himself, police said.

The recent event is another example of violence, which continues to escalate in Chicago and across the country as the pandemic has forced cities to take additional precautions and go into quarantine.

Although health protocols were necessary, victims of domestic violence found it more difficult to get help.

What happened

Sania Khan, 29, was killed on Monday by Raheel Ahmed, 36, with whom she filed for divorce.

The incident took place in Khan’s apartment building in Streeterville. The scene

Police arrived at the 200 block of East Ohio Street around 4:30 p.m. after Alpharetta police requested a checkup on Ahmed, whose family had previously reported him missing in suburban Atlanta.

An Alpharetta officer told Chicago police that Ahmed and Khan were going to divorce, noting that he had traveled to Chicago to “save the marriage.”

Upon entering the building and arriving at Khan’s unit, they knocked on the door and heard a single gunshot followed by a “verbal groan.”

Khan’s apartment

When police entered the apartment, they found Khan near the door with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

The blood on his face had already dried.

Meanwhile, Ahmed was found in the bedroom, where he shot himself in the head.

Ahmed held a Glock 9mm pistol and allegedly left a suicide note.

Aftermath

Chicago police and the Cook County Coroner’s Office pronounced Khan dead at the scene, while Ahmed was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died.

Khan’s death was ruled as manslaughter, while Ahmed’s death was a suicide.

Sanya Khan

Sania Khan was a photographer specializing in weddings and happy couples.

Her professional website wrote that her art is focused on capturing “life’s most precious moments.”

“I help people fall in love with themselves and each other in front of the camera,” her Instagram bio wrote.

Khan’s website revealed that she moved to Chicago in June 2021 from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she grew up.

“I used to love travel so much that I was a flight attendant,” Khan’s website wrote.

“My favorite layover was always Chicago and who would have known two years later I would have moved here?”

Sania Khan worked as a social worker before becoming a flight attendant to support herself while transitioning into a traveling photographer.

Friends sentiments

After her death, Sania Khan’s loved ones created a GoFundMe page to raise money for organizing the funeral.

Any additional funds will go to the prevention of domestic violence.

Grant, a friend from Khan’s high school, revealed that she planned to return to Tennessee this week to plan her next step in her photography career.

“You were stepping into the next chapter of your life when you left us,” he wrote on Facebook.

“[and] I hope that wherever you are, this next chapter brings you the happiness and success you were always wanting.”

Grant works as a cinematographer and videographer and said he and Khan were “creative minds” who bonded over their passion for photography at Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences.

He also shared that Khan studied psychology and women’s studies while pursuing a career as a photographer.

“She could make a friend out of anyone and would always be there for them during their moments,” Grant added.

“You would be hard pressed to find anyone who would say something bad about Sania because just knowing Sania added so much light to your life.”

Grant revealed that Sania Khan and Raheel Ahmad separated last winter and divorced months later.

References:

Georgia man travels to Chicago, kills wife, then himself at Streeterville condo: police reports

Georgia man traveled to Chicago and fatally shot ex-wife at Streeterville condo, then killed himself as cops arrived: police

Alpharetta man travels to Chicago, kills estranged wife, cops say

Police Department Mourns as Third Police Officer Succumbs to Suicide

Claire Peterson on July 18, 2022

Warning: the following content contains the sensitive topic of suicide. If you feel suicidal or know someone who has talked about suicide, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or text the Crisis Text Line by messaging TALK to 741741.

The Chicago Police Department is mourning the recent suicide of another officer, marking the department’s third suicide in weeks.

Statements from the Department and Fraternal Order of Police

The department shared their grief with a statement, “The Chicago Police Department is mourning the loss of the off-duty sergeant who succumbed to his injuries today.”

The officer was in serious condition on Saturday after his attempt.

The Fraternal Order of Police also tweeted: “We’re devastated. Two of our members recently died by suicide and we just got word that a third member died by suicide earlier today.”

Attached to the tweet was a quote from former department member and FOP President John Catanzara.

“We can always do a better job of looking out for our brothers and sisters in trying to pay attention to possible crisis moments that we can intervene,” the quote read. “This isn’t a fool proof system, we’re never going to stop it 100%, but we certainly can try. And we owe it to our brothers and sisters wearing the badge to do just that.”

Statistics

The CPD has reported more than a dozen suicides since 2018, while a 2017 Justice Department report stated that the CPD’s suicide rate was 60% higher than the national average.

The most recent report comes the day after another policeman was found dead in his home weeks after another killed herself.

Previous reports

Fifth District Officer Durand Lee was found dead at his residence on Friday, according to Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled that his death was a suicide. The coroner identified Lee on Friday afternoon.

On the morning of July 2, the Cook County coroner’s office reported that 29-year-old Patricia Swank had committed suicide.

Additional statements

The third officer’s identity has not yet been released, but the department shares his emotional feelings by contacting the city, saying:

“We ask that the city wrap its arms around this sergeant’s loved ones as they mourn his loss. Please take a moment to pray for the men and women of CPD, who are grieving alongside this sergeant’s family.”

Former police officer Jamay Nellum-Fane also intervened, saying: “It’s very heartbreaking to know that an officer was under so much stress, so depressed, they felt that they’re only way out is to take their life.”

Nellum-Fane served the department for more than 16 years and retired in early April. He added that the emotional stress of being a police officer has become more urgent.

“The days off being canceled, and then we have to be real – the stress that our officers are under responding to calls – person with a gun, person shot, domestic battery, child abuse, sexual assault,” she said, explaining that stress led her to retire.

“I went through that dark period, facing depression, facing PTSD, facing post-traumatic stress,” explained Nellum-Fane. “It was just too much. It was over-bearing.”

Jamay Nellum-Fane echoed the sentiments of the FOP, saying, “I think they have to be more creative and actually assign maybe counselors, social workers, whatever the case is, to actual districts.”

The Chicago Police Department tweeted, saying:

“We are in the midst of the most difficult and challenging time to be a Police Officer in this country. Officer well-being and overall mental health is our top priority.”

“Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP and Professional Counseling Division provides free and confidential programs to all active and retired department members and their families,” they added.

“We stand with our officers.”

References:

3rd Chicago police officer dies by suicide this month, department announces

Chicago police officer found dead in home ruled suicide

Chicago police officer killed in suicide ID’d by medical examiner