China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Getting the picture
“The defect in the algorithm is a defect in our values. We neglected the problem for a long time, but we will not shirk responsibility or evade supervision.”
Last month, Toutiao removed about 10,000 video clips and closed about 5,000 accounts, while Kuaishou removed about 310,000 video clips and closed 65,000 accounts.
The sites’ CEOs promised to improve editorial responsibility, with Toutiao saying it will increase the number of staff members in its review team from 6,000 to 10,000, while Kuaishou will raise numbers from 2,000 to 5,000.
The sites also promised to amend their algorithms to add “correct values”, avoid illegal and obscene content, and focus more on protecting minors.
‘‘Wrong’ values
that pursue commercial profit often focus on technology and do not have any training in media ethics, meaning they may be led astray by video traffic that generates profits.”
Supervision
“The sites should ensure that livestreamers and video providers understand what they are and are not allowed to do before they register,” he said.
“Service providers should not impose restrictions on registration because it is a good way for people, especially those from the grassroots, to gain recognition. Instead, the sites should adopt a credit system to regulate users’ behavior. The sites can take action against those with bad credit records. Service providers should pay more attention to posters whose videos attract a large volume of traffic or those selling goods or services while streaming, because they have greater influence.”
He added that in addition to guiding the industry with timely policies, the regulators should encourage the public to report harmful content, because the number of users is rising so quickly that the regulators are unable to keep track.
“A tip- off system could be led by social organizations, and the public could engage with it. The system could be more effective if people were rewarded for reporting harmful content,” he said.
Pi Yong, deputy head of the Cyberspace Governance Research Institute at Wuhan University, said the system has produced a three-layer relationship: government; internet service providers; and netizens.
“Without the middle layer, the government would be unable to manage cyberspace effectively. At the same time, service providers and netizens rely on each other, with the former gaining huge profits from the latter, so they must find a balance between commercial profit and social responsibility,” he said.
“Breaking the ecology of cyberspace will not be good for its operation in the long run.” because they are strangers.”
Li Duojiao, Wei’s head teacher, said, “We call her the ‘Douyin Princess’ in class. Sometimes I see she has shared her videos on WeChat, and other students have given her ‘likes’.
“Teenagers just need a stage to show off. Even though they may put themselves at potential risk, we never stop them from using the internet, which is irresistible and part of their lives. Someday, they will enter society, where they will encounter good and bad things. It is important that they are capable of telling right from wrong, and choosing suitable things for themselves.”