TikTok is reportedly laying off a significant number of content moderation staff to shift its focus towards utilizing AI (artificial intelligence) for content censorship.
The popular video-sharing platform, TikTok, has officially announced that it will be laying off hundreds of employees worldwide as part of its efforts to transition to an AI-powered content moderation model. A TikTok spokesperson stated, “We are making these changes to strengthen our global operating model for content moderation.”
It is estimated that about 500 employees in Malaysia will be impacted by these layoffs. Many employees reported receiving termination notices via email. Additionally, TikTok plans to further consolidate some of its regional operations after previously implementing layoffs in its marketing and operations departments earlier this year.
Before this shift, TikTok employed a content censorship model that combined human moderators with AI. Under this model, AI would scan videos to identify content that violated guidelines, such as nudity, violence, or other inappropriate behaviors. If a user disagreed with a content restriction or flag, a human moderator would review the content.
Despite the transition to AI-powered content moderation, the job of TikTok moderators has been known to be challenging. In a 2022 report, it was revealed that these employees received relatively low salaries, with some earning around 1.8 USD per hour. Many of these moderators reside in developing countries such as Mexico, Malaysia, and Colombia.
Furthermore, moderators face significant pressure from strict supervision and are required to review a high volume of videos daily, with the risk of salary deductions if they fail to meet certain quotas. There have been concerns about the lack of adequate psychological support for moderators who regularly review videos containing sensitive and distressing content.
In response to these concerns, a TikTok representative emphasized the company’s efforts to cultivate a supportive work environment for its employees and contractors. The Trust and Safety team collaborates with third-party companies to protect the TikTok platform and community and has expanded healthcare services to provide mental and emotional support to moderators.
