TikTok cracks down on abusive spam with a new tool that allows users to bulk delete comments

• TikTok will allow users to screen many comments at once in an effort to curb harassment.
• The move gives creators more control over their platforms on the video app.
• TikTok has been criticized in the past for its approach to content moderation.

TikTok is rolling out a new feature that allows users to delete many comments at once and more easily block and report people in bulk. TechCrunch first reported on the update on Thursday.

Users can now select up to 100 comments at one time, either to be deleted or reported, which will allow users with high follower counts to manage online harassment or other issues in bulk.

TikTok has been criticized in the past for its approach to content moderation, which is somewhat lax compared to other social media networks like Facebook and Instagram. Users previously told Insider that they faced transphobic harassment

Until this new feature rolled out, TikTok users did not have the ability to block everyone who liked a certain comment or post, a feature available on other platforms that helps users deal with harassment from larger groups.

TechCrunch reported that the new feature was first coming out in countries like the UK and Vietnam, but "in the weeks to come" will expand to other areas, including the United States.

Earlier this month, TikTok announced some other new capabilities designed to combat online abuse and bullying, Insider reported. TikTok introduced a new capability for users to filter their comments prior to the comments appearing on public videos, thus allowing the creators of videos to hide comments that they find inappropriate.

Carolina Are, who researches online moderation at City University of London, told Insider after the TikTok filtering capability was introduced, "I'm super, super happy that TikTok is doing something about online abuse because I think it's the nastiest place on the internet for it at the moment."

"I do feel like a lot of these techniques do put more work on creators and there's always the potential for censorship by users who just don't want you to post something that they disagree with," Are said.