Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s head of public policy for North America, joined CBS MORNINGS to discuss the platform, its efforts to protect young users’ mental health and what parents can do to help monitor their children’s usage.

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Excerpts:

- On why TikTok will not adapt the same policies it has in China to safeguard children on the product: “TikTok is completely separate from that. And they have different regulations and rules in China than they do in the U.S. Here, we do have an age-appropriate experience, we have the tools in place to have – let parents decide how much time they want their teenagers to spend, to give the nudge on taking a break. But it’s something that we’re talking to policymakers on. It’s important that apps have age-appropriate experience, and we have certain tools that are not available for younger teenagers. Direct messaging, for example, something that’s very popular with teenagers. But also it’s an area that bad things can happen with indirect messages. On TikTok, if you’re under 16, there’s no direct messaging at all.”

- On what is says about social media that there are features that nudge people to use their product less: “This is entertainment. Just like watching TV, the radio, or Netflix or anything else. You should watch in moderation. We’re trying to be responsible. And we’re trying to learn, as well. We’ve invested in Boston Children’s Hospital helping them put together a digital wellness lab. To hear from experts on what are the things that can be healthy for teenagers, and we’re implementing that proactively.”

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