TikTok Reduces AI Content: What It Means for Your Feed

Have you ever scrolled through your "For You" page and wondered if that stunning landscape, hilarious celebrity interaction, or perfectly crafted animation was entirely real? As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, the line between human creation and machine generation is blurring. TikTok, a platform at the forefront of creative trends, is now introducing significant changes to how AI-driven content is managed, labeled, and presented to its billion-plus users. These updates aim to enhance transparency and, for the first time, give you direct control over the amount of AI-generated content that appears in your feed.

The Growing Presence of AI on TikTok

Artificial intelligence is no longer just about fun filters that add cat ears to your selfie. On TikTok, AI-generated content (AIGC) encompasses a wide spectrum of media, from subtle enhancements to fully synthetic creations. The platform itself defines AIGC as any image, video, or audio generated or significantly modified by deep learning or machine learning processes.

This includes a variety of formats you may already be encountering:

• Altered Reality: Videos featuring a real person whose voice, words, or actions have been modified by AI. This could be a deepfake where someone appears to say something they never did.

• Enhanced Scenes: Footage of a real-world event that has been altered by AI beyond simple color correction, perhaps by adding or removing significant elements.

• Completely Synthetic Media: Videos or images of people, places, and events—both real and fictional—that were created from scratch by an AI model.

The scale of this content is staggering. According to recent figures, there are now over 1.3 billion videos on TikTok that have been labeled as AI-generated. While this is still a fraction of the more than 100 million pieces of content uploaded daily, the rapid advancement of tools like OpenAI's Sora and Google's Veo suggests this number is set to explode. The challenge, then, is to foster creativity while maintaining a transparent and authentic environment for everyone.

A New Era of Control: Putting Users in Charge

In a major shift, TikTok is moving to empower its community by giving users direct control over their exposure to AI-generated content. The platform is testing a new feature that will allow you to reduce or increase the amount of AIGC you see, a change that will soon be rolled out globally.

This new functionality will be integrated into the existing "manage topic" settings within the app. Just as you can currently tell the algorithm you want to see less content about dance trends or more about current affairs, you will soon be able to select "AI-generated content" and adjust its prevalence in your feed.

Empowering Informed Choices

This move toward greater user control reflects a broader principle of transparency and empowerment. At its core, the goal is to give individuals the tools to curate their own experience, whether in the digital world or the physical one. Just as we believe in providing homeowners with smart solar solutions to give them full control over their energy consumption and costs, TikTok is now aiming to give users a similar level of command over their digital diet. This is about transforming a passive consumption experience into an active, managed one. By handing over the reins, the platform acknowledges that while many enjoy the creativity unlocked by AI, others may prefer a more organic, unfiltered experience. This change allows for both, catering to individual preferences rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

What is "AI Slop"?

The term "AI slop" has emerged to describe low-quality, mass-produced, and often nonsensical content generated by AI. This can include everything from strange, surreal animations to automated "explainer" videos that are factually incorrect. The new filtering option on TikTok could be a powerful tool for users to reduce their exposure to this kind of digital noise.

The Critical Role of Labeling and Transparency

To make informed choices, users first need to know what they're looking at. This is why TikTok has established a robust labeling system, encouraging—and in some cases, requiring—creators to disclose when their content is made with AI. The primary goal is to prevent viewers from confusing fact with fiction and to uphold the platform's Community Guidelines on Integrity and Authenticity.

TikTok uses a two-pronged approach to labeling:

1. Creator-Applied Labels: Creators can and should manually apply a label to content that is either completely generated or "significantly edited" by AI. When this is done, a "Creator labeled as AI-generated" tag appears on the post. TikTok warns that misleadingly applying this label to unaltered content is a violation of its Terms of Service and may result in content removal.

2. Automatic Labels: In many cases, TikTok will automatically apply an "AI-generated" label. This happens when a creator uses one of TikTok's own AI effects or when the platform detects metadata indicating AI generation. TikTok has partnered with the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) to use its "Content Credentials" technology, which embeds metadata into a file that instantly identifies it as AIGC. Once this automatic label is applied, it cannot be removed.

What does "significantly edited" mean?
TikTok considers content significantly edited by AI when real images or video are modified beyond minor enhancements. This includes synthetic media where:

• The main subjects are shown doing something they didn't do (e.g., dancing).

• The main subjects are portrayed saying something they didn't say (e.g., using an AI-cloned voice).

• The appearance of the main subject is substantially altered, to the point of being unrecognizable (e.g., an AI face-swap).

The Red Lines: What AI Content Is Banned on TikTok?

While labeling promotes transparency, some types of AI-generated content are considered harmful regardless of disclosure and are prohibited entirely. TikTok's policies are designed to prevent the spread of misinformation and protect individuals from harm.

Even with a proper label, the following types of AIGC are not allowed:

• Misleading Authoritative Content: Content that depicts fake authoritative sources (like news organizations), crisis events, or falsely shows public figures in specific misleading contexts, such as being bullied or making a false endorsement.

• Unauthorized Likeness of Private Figures: Using the likeness of any adult private figure without their permission is strictly forbidden.

• Likeness of Minors: Any AI-generated content that uses the realistic likeness of a person under the age of 18 is prohibited.

Labels Are Not a Free Pass

It's crucial to remember that an "AI-generated" label does not exempt content from TikTok's other Community Guidelines. All content, regardless of how it was made, is subject to policies against impersonation, misinformation, hate speech, and other harmful behaviors. Violations will result in content removal or account action.

A Practical Guide for Creators: How to Label Your Content

If you're a creator using AI tools, adhering to TikTok's labeling policies is essential for building trust with your audience and ensuring your content remains on the platform. Fortunately, the process is straightforward.

To label a Photo post:

1. Tap the Add post + button and create your photo.

2. On the posting screen, tap Post settings at the bottom.

3. Toggle the AI-generated content setting to on.

To label a Video post:

1. Tap the Add post + button to record or upload a video.

2. After editing, tap the Continue ✓ button, then tap Next.

3. On the post screen, tap More options... and toggle the AI-generated content setting on.

TikTok has stated that turning on this setting will not negatively affect the distribution of your video, as long as it complies with all other Community Guidelines. Being transparent is a sign of a responsible creator.

Expert Tip: Build Trust Through Transparency

Don't view labeling as a chore. Instead, see it as an opportunity to be transparent with your audience. Viewers appreciate authenticity, and openly disclosing your use of AI tools can build credibility and even become a part of your creative identity. Proactively labeling your work prevents potential backlash and shows respect for your community.

The Bigger Picture: Industry-Wide Challenges and Initiatives

TikTok's latest moves are part of a broader industry response to the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI. As technology advances, social media platforms are grappling with how to balance creative freedom with user safety and the integrity of information.

To that end, TikTok is investing in digital literacy. The company has launched a $2 million AI literacy fund to support experts and organizations, such as Girls Who Code, in creating educational content about using AI responsibly. This initiative aims to equip users with the critical thinking skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

The platform is also addressing concerns about its content moderation strategies. Amid discussions about the role of human versus AI moderators, TikTok has emphasized a hybrid approach. The company reports that its automated systems have led to a 76% decrease in shocking and graphic content being seen by human moderators over the past year. Their stated goal is to use technology to remove the most harmful content at scale, thereby protecting human teams from repeated exposure to distressing material while still leveraging human expertise for nuanced cases.

As AI continues to evolve, the digital spaces we inhabit will change with it. The shift from a top-down moderation system to one that includes user-led curation is a significant step. It signals a future where your online experience is not just something that happens to you, but something you actively shape. By providing tools for transparency and control, platforms like TikTok are laying the groundwork for a more collaborative and user-centric digital world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I forget to label my realistic AI-generated content?

If you post realistic AI-generated content without the required label, it violates TikTok's Community Guidelines. The platform may remove the content, and repeated violations could lead to further action against your account. It's always best to be proactive and label your content correctly during the upload process.

Can I remove an "AI-generated" label from my video?

If you manually applied the "Creator labeled as AI-generated" label, you may be able to edit the post. However, if TikTok automatically applied the "AI-generated" label (due to detecting AI effects or C2PA metadata), you cannot remove it. This is a permanent tag designed to ensure consistent transparency.

Will choosing to see less AI content make my "For You" page boring?

Not at all. This feature is about personalizing your feed to match your preferences. If you prefer to see more content created by humans without significant AI modification, the algorithm will adjust to show you more of that. The goal is to make your feed more relevant and enjoyable for you, whatever your tastes may be.

What is "AI slop" and how does this new feature help fight it?

"AI slop" refers to low-quality, often nonsensical content that is mass-produced by AI models. It can clutter feeds and reduce the overall quality of the user experience. The new "manage topic" setting gives you a direct tool to reduce the visibility of such content, allowing you to filter out digital noise and focus on the high-quality, creative content you want to see.