Months after TikTok vowed to ban videos promoting sunbaking, sponsored tanning videos have been shared widely on the social media platform.
The ABC has viewed multiple videos on the platform promoting tanning oils and products that promise to boost melanin for a quicker tan on the Chinese-owned app.
However, following enquiries from the ABC, TikTok said it would ban promotional content that featured tanning oils from Thursday, March 2.
"This will prohibit tan boosters, accelerators and products that stimulate, boost or increase melanin production and tan-through swimwear being advertised on our platform," a TikTok spokesperson said.
It said in a statement that it valued the community's safety and that it had implemented campaigns such as one called "Tanning: That's Cooked".
However, prior to the new policy coming into force on Thursday, March 2, content promoting sunbaking and tanning products had continued to be widely disseminated – months after TikTok first said it would crack down on the posts.
Gold Coast resident Courtney Mangan said any promotional content on tanning was a concern.
The 29-year-old has advanced melanoma and said it was disturbing to see so many paid partnerships.
"So many social media stars now promoting getting outside, getting a tan, it's becoming more and more harmful," she said.
"I find smoking and sun tanning to be exactly the same — both of those things will kill you."
Cancer Council SA said it was disappointing that the announcement was not acted upon sooner.
"We were thrilled when we heard TikTok was going to ban tanning," Cancer Council SA prevention manager Christine Morris said.
"It's incredibly worrying for us. We know social media is influential to young people."
Ms Mangan said there needed to be a change in how people viewed sunbaking.
"It's all about a healthy tan, and it makes you look sexy," Ms Mangan said.
"I think it's not just social media; it's the way of life in Australia.
"We praise people about having that glow about them, but when you're fair, the connotations are you're sick or ill."
In a statement, TikTok said its approach to the issue had been twofold, and targeted both tanning product ads and user-generated content.
"TikTok has been proactively reviewing and removing content that encourages and/or glamorizes dangerous tanning practices, and we will continue to do so," it said.
Push for change
Melanoma Institute Australia said an Australian was diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes, and a person died every six hours.
The institute's co-medical director, Richard Scolyer, spoke about the issue of social media glamorising tanning at the National Press Club last year.
He said the federal government needed to implement advertising bans on tanning.
"Change has to happen across the board," Professor Scolyer said.
"If action isn't heeded, we need to work with the federal government in particular for real and lasting change."
In Ms Mangan's case, she noticed something was wrong in 2019, when she spotted a mole that was changing on the back of her right shoulder.
After seeking medical advice, she was twice told it was not anything to worry about, she said, but she decided to see a specialist, and the diagnosis "came back as a level four melanoma".
"I went into surgery within two weeks and had it removed," she said.
"Then two-and-a-half years later it came back and it had spread to another part of [her] arm."
Danger of incidental sun damage
Ms Mangan said while she had always considered herself to be sun smart.
"It's all the incidental sun that is damaging," she said.
"I'm a redhead with fair skin, so I always practised sun safety, when I felt like I needed it — and that's the issue," she said.
"When I'm driving to work everyday, that's literally where the sun would hit me on my back — where the mole was — through the car window.
"When you're driving to get coffee, hanging out your laundry, it's about the incidental sun that can be damaging and I wasn't wearing SPF in those instances."
Ms Mangan's battle has been lengthy — after another year involving treatment and surgery, she again started to think she may have overcome the cancer, "but three months later it showed it spread to my bowel so I had another surgery".
"Three months later again it's spread to my thigh and I've gone through cancer treatment since then."
Professor Scolyer said while it had taken months for TikTok to implement its promise, it was still a step in the right direction.
"Credit where credit is due, but more needs to be done to tackle Australia's tanning culture," he said.
"TikTok committed to removing harmful content from its platform relating to sunburn and tanning.
"We are delighted to hear that TikTok has extended its 'Tanning: That's Cooked' campaign … through autumn.
"We would love to see changes across all the social media platforms."
