TikTok to Add Epilepsy Warning to Photosensitive Videos

TikTok will be debuting a new feature on its app that will add epilepsy warnings to photosensitive videos in a few weeks, according to The Verge. In TikTok’s settings under accessibility, users will be able to remove photosensitive videos from their feed. Currently, TikTok does alert creators if their videos contain seizure triggers. TikTok has worked with the Epilepsy Foundation of America and other international epilepsy organizations on this initiative.

Other relevant stories:
• Epilepsy Awareness Month
• What Does a Seizure Feel Like
• Epilepsy Life Expectancy

Epilepsy is a serious condition affecting around 50m people globally. As part of our work to make TikTok more accessible, & having consulted with epilepsy experts, we're introducing a series of features which protect people from photosensitive content https://t.co/bk6Ro3P9f9

— Caroline Greer (@CarolineGreer) November 24, 2020

The Frontlines: About 3% of people with epilepsy have photosensitive epilepsy, according to the Epilepsy Foundation of America. Seizures in those with this type of epilepsy is triggered by certain photic (light) conditions.

• Photosensitive epilepsy is more common in children and adolescents, and it tends to improve with age, especially with those who have juvenile myoclonic epilepsy or epilepsy with eyelid myoclonia (Jeavon’s syndrome).
• Some triggers could include rapid flashes or alternating patterns of different colors on videos like on TikTok.

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A Mighty Voice: Strobe lights in television and movies are one thing that can trigger photosensitive epilepsy, and our contributor Kathryn Blanchard wrote about how strobe light warnings can be improved. “I would love for shows to keep the opening warning as is, and add a text box in the corner of the screen that alerts you to avert your eyes a few moments before the strobe lighting will occur.” You can submit your first-person story, too.

From Our Community:

Self-Care After Seizures? #SeizureDisorder #Epilepsy

Other Things to Know: Despite over 1% of people experiencing epilepsy at some point in their life, epilepsy is often stigmatized. You can read the stories below to understand the experiences that people with epilepsy face, and why advocacy is so important.

• Why It’s Critical for the Epilepsy Community to Raise Awareness
• Why Having Another Seizure Scared Me So Much
• Pushing Past the Social Limits of Epilepsy

How to Take Action: If you are a TikTok creator and want to help make the platform safer, try not to upload videos that TikTok flags as photosensitive content.