TikTok US General Manager's Commitment to User Safety and Well-being

By Vanessa Pappas, TikTok US General Manager

I joined TikTok earlier this year because I was drawn to its fun and entertaining environment, which is a refreshing change from the increasingly divisive online world. TikTok's mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.

In just over a year since its launch in the US, TikTok's short videos have brought fun and entertainment to millions of users and creators. It has become beloved for providing a platform for creative expression and a uniquely genuine and inspiring app experience. We are thrilled to bring joy to so many, but we also recognize the great responsibility that comes with it. We are fully committed to meeting this responsibility.

To strengthen our teams, moderation policies, and overall transparency, we have enlisted the help of a renowned global law firm, K&L Gates LLP. Former Congressmen Bart Gordon and Jeff Denham, who have expertise in the technology sector, will be working with us throughout this process. Together with our internal US management team, they will focus on several key initiatives:

Establishing a committee of outside experts to advise on and review content moderation policies, covering various topics such as child safety, hate speech, misinformation, bullying, and other potential issues.
Increasing transparency regarding our content moderation policies and the practices we employ to protect our community.
Strengthening our internal leadership team to effectively tackle the challenges that come with our rapid expansion.

These steps are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining the app experience users expect while ensuring their safety and well-being. We will continue to provide updates and transparency in the months and years ahead.