TikTok to update AI, content rules on September 13

TikTok will update its Community Guidelines on September 13, 2025, with clearer rules on commercial content, personalization, and AI-generated material.

Creators must disclose commercial content, and posts directing users to buy products outside TikTok Shop may face reduced visibility in markets where TikTok Shop operates.

They are also responsible for third-party tools used during live sessions, such as translation or voice-to-text, ensuring these do not violate TikTok’s rules.

The update clarifies that search results and recommendations are personalized, while comment sections will now be sorted based on factors like past replies and likes, giving each user a different experience.

For AI-generated content, TikTok bans material that is misleading on matters of public importance or harmful to individuals.

The platform also simplified its content moderation language, stating its goal as maintaining a “safe, fun, and creative place for everyone.”

🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Global regulatory pressure drives platform policy evolution

TikTok’s latest Community Guidelines update reflects how social media platforms are adapting policies in response to mounting regulatory requirements.

The company explicitly mentions compliance with the UK’s Online Safety Act, EU’s Digital Services Act, and US TAKE IT DOWN Act as drivers for these changes, showing how platforms must navigate an increasingly complex web of international regulations1.

The platform has been iteratively updating its AI content guidelines since at least 2023, when it first introduced requirements for labeling synthetic media2.

These ongoing policy revisions demonstrate how major platforms are moving from reactive content moderation toward proactive compliance frameworks designed to satisfy regulators across multiple jurisdictions.

2️⃣ Algorithm changes reveal TikTok’s commerce-first strategy

TikTok’s decision to reduce visibility for content directing users to “purchase products off-platform in markets where TikTok Shop is available” highlights a prioritization of its own commerce ecosystem over creator monetization flexibility.

This algorithmic change directly impacts creator revenue streams by making off-platform sales less discoverable, effectively pushing creators toward TikTok’s own shopping infrastructure1.