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WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Paul D. Tonko today joined the Committee on Energy and Commerce to question TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew about how the platform’s algorithm floods users with dangerous content, and hold a particular danger to young people and individuals struggling with addiction, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions.

Tonko also highlighted data privacy concerns, including how TikTok and other social media platforms and third-party advertisers had received patient health records and information from telehealth companies including Cerebral.

“I am concerned that TikTok’s algorithm preys on vulnerable people, including those struggling with addiction, eating disorders, and other mental health conditions,” Rep. Tonko said. “The platform is designed to push content to users that they will watch more frequently and for longer periods of time. Unfortunately, for many people suffering from certain mental health disorders, videos that reinforce their fears or negative self-image crowd their ‘For You’ feeds. So if a user spends more time looking at distressing content, and that keeps them engaged, then the algorithm will feed them more alarming content to keep them scrolling. And the longer a user stays on watching this distressing content, the more profit TikTok makes. People’s personal struggles should not be fuel for TikTok’s profits.”

Rep. Tonko’s remarks can be viewed HERE and on the E&C Committee website.