The Venezuelan Supreme Court has imposed a $10 million fine on TikTok following the tragedy involving three teenagers who were poisoned by chemicals.
The Venezuelan Supreme Court said TikTok was responsible for developing dangerous content on its platform that led to tragic consequences. TikTok was fined $10 million, which according to Tanya D’Amelio, the president of the Venezuelan Supreme Court, is not only a punishment but also a call for the platform to take action to protect young people.
The fined funds will be used to compensate the damages suffered by those affected, emphasising the Venezuelan authorities’ intention to support its citizens in combating the negative effects of social media.
The obligation to open an office in Venezuela demonstrates the state’s desire to more actively monitor fashion trends and content on the platform. This, in turn, could be a model for other countries that are experiencing similar problems with social media.
The deaths of three teenagers, as well as the poisoning of more than 200 people as a result of participating in Challenges, caused huge outrage among parents and the public. This has become a critical time to analyse how effectively TikTok is controlling content that could be harmful to health and safety.
Statistics show that more than 60 per cent of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17 actively use TikTok, making them vulnerable to risky challenges spread online.
