Rabat – The app’s latest obsession, “Burn Lines,” led the French government to ask Arcom France, the national regulator, to intervene as the trend promotes unhealthy UV exposure that could potentially cause cancer.
The “Burntok” or “Tantok” is a trend that involves young users exposing themselves directly to the sun with no protection to obtain “Burn Lines.”
French Health Minister Yannick Neuder, along with Digital Minister Clara Chappaz, warns in a letter sent on August 1, to ARCOM, about the dangerous trend, stating, “These types of content, which are increasingly widespread, encourage dangerous behaviors that could seriously harm users.”
The two officials asked the national regulator to coordinate with the European Commission, if necessary, to reinforce moderating rules for media content on different platforms like TikTok, making sure it conforms to the Digital Services Act (DSA), a set of European Union regulations that protect online users.
The Digital Services Act safeguards minors, assesses system risks, and advocates for transparency about how algorithms operate.
Back in June, Digital Minister Chappaz criticized TikTok’s trend “skinnytok,” another trend that glorifies unhealthy thinness and encourages harmful eating habits.
This led to an investigation by the commission, which eventually led to the platform banning the “SkinnyTok” hashtag amid pressure from regulators and public outrage.
