Our global Trust and Safety Team plays an essential role in keeping the TikTok platform safe and creating a positive in-app community. But what is it really like to work on the team? We spoke with TikTok Korea's Kyung-Hoon Kim, who recently celebrated his one-year work anniversary, about the experience of working as a Content Moderator in our Seoul office.
Congratulations on your first anniversary at TikTok! Tell us about yourself and what you do on TikTok's Trust & Safety (T&S) Team.
"Thanks! Before TikTok, I studied broadcast media and worked for an entertainment program at a local station. My dream is to become a producer, so I was excited to join TikTok's T&S team because I knew I would come across all kinds of content and learn about the latest creative trends. So far that's turned out to be true, and I've not only improved my ability to plan content (which is essential for any producer), but also developed a real interest in the field of online safety.
As a Content Moderator, I'm mainly responsible for reviewing video content on TikTok and implementing our safety guidelines. TikTok is a community-driven platform where users create and share their own videos, so the environment is dynamic and I have to be fast and flexible in responding to new issues that arise each day. Working alongside the Quality Analysis, Policy, and Operations teams, the T&S team aims to create a safe environment for the TikTok community while ensuring the platform's sustainable development."
After one year at TikTok, what keeps you engaged with your work?
"Working in T&S at TikTok comes with endless possibilities and potential for growth. In the modern age, digital platforms have become an integral part of our lives, and that link will become even stronger in the future. Trust & Safety teams across the industry have a huge and growing responsibility to manage and protect the ecosystem of platforms, and they are essential to these platforms' success. It motivates me that I not only work in an area of high impact, but also get to learn so much about a field that is growing rapidly.
Last but not least, I love the people and culture at TikTok. My team has regular team building events (recently all virtual) and we prepare some great topics and activities in advance to learn about each other. In Korea, we also get to enjoy TNL (Tuesday Night Live), our monthly gathering event for the entire office. We welcome new joiners, share TikTok videos, celebrate work anniversaries, hand out TikTok swag and prizes, and more! We also get snacks and drinks delivered to our homes."
What is the work atmosphere like at TikTok?
"We have a flat structure at TikTok, which makes me comfortable working with colleagues of all levels and functions and gives me the autonomy to drive my own projects. Whenever we face crises or difficult times, ego never gets in the way -- we always get on the same page quickly and solve problems as a team.
For example, I often face situations in my work where it's difficult to judge whether certain content falls within our guidelines. In these cases, I immediately reach out to the relevant departments and share my thought process with them, and we can evaluate different forms of risk analysis together to arrive at a consensus. This fast and collaborative culture where each team member has great autonomy is what working at TikTok is all about."
Do you have advice for those interested in joining our Trust & Safety team?
"Rather than attaching too much weight to general requirements like language proficiency and certifications, I would suggest reflecting on the significance of your own unique experiences and how they connect with Trust & Safety. Still, there's not a 'must be this or that' if you want to work at TikTok. We value diversity in our teams and seek out team members with different backgrounds and experiences. Trust & Safety is also an open field that welcomes people at all stages of their careers. I hope that my story can be of some help to future team members!"
Thanks to Kyung-Hoon and the rest of our T&S team, our platform and community around the world is thriving. If you're excited to make an impact and take your career to new heights at TikTok, browse the latest openings on our jobs page and follow us on LinkedIn for updates.
