We know that you, as parents, want to help your kids learn about digital safety so they can manage their online presence and stay safe as they grow up.

If you’re familiar with Vine, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube or any other type of video-based social network, then you’ve probably heard about TikTok. The mobile social media application is a video platform that enables users to create short videos of a minute or less to entertain other users in the online community, as well as the user’s own followers.

The user-base of TikTok is vast and diverse. A recent study by Omnicore discovered that 41% of users are between 16 to 24, with 56% male and 44% female. But the fact is, children as young as 8 have been on the platform, and are increasingly becoming familiar with the app.

How safe is TikTok?

Any time your child is sharing personal information online, they make themselves vulnerable to issues like cyberstalking, harassment, cyberbullying, as well as being sent inappropriate content. The content your child creates could be shared inappropriately, as well.

As many of us know, no social network is immune to negative or dangerous behaviors. And as we all encounter people from different backgrounds and life experiences online, it’s common for some risky behavior to be present!

As you interact with strangers on TikTok there are potential risks that can arise; such as exposure to prejudice, sexist comments, misogynistic language or racist remarks.

Like all social media platforms, TikTok is designed to be a time-consuming and distracting app that pulls you in for hours as you watch video after video. The company is constantly working to gain and keep your attention by investing in advanced Artificial Intelligence that ensures we are served up never-ending videos optimized for the internet age. Users can spend hours scrolling from video to video.

Ways Of Using TikTok Safely

Like all apps it is not really the technology that makes them safe or unsafe but the people that use them and our behaviors when we use them ourselves that determines our experiences.

But here are some things to be aware of:

  • Accounts are public by default so you may want to go and make your account private. Head to the profile page. Click the 3 dot icon in the top right hand corner and click on ‘Privacy and Safety’. You’ll find these options t
  • There is a Restricted Mode that can be turned on under the heading Digital wellbeing. This can limit the content that may not be appropriate for younger users.
  • Unless you are on the restricted mode it’s difficult to filter content or users so if you are a parent you would want to have access to your child’s account to see what they are posting and sharing and who they are interacting with. It should also be set to private.  Like all apps however, the popularity element can be enticing as they strive for greater reach and attention from other users.
  • TikTok has a system in place to prevent kids from getting stuck in the app for long periods of time. Under your TikTok profile, click on the three dots in the upper right corner, which is Privacy and Settings. Select Digital Wellbeing and Screen Time Management. Then set a screen time limit. Note that if your kids know their TikTok passcode, they can enter it after the time limit is up to keep using TikTok, so keep the passcode hidden if you want to stick to the time limit.

One last thing to keep in mind about TikTok is the information that your kids share in their profile. On TikTok, kids can choose a profile photo, profile video, username, write a bio, and link their Instagram or Youtube.

If this is your kid’s first exposure to social media, you’ll probably want to help them through creating their profile or look it over after they are done.

Make sure that they do not reveal any private information in their bio, such as their address, school, or even last name.

Final Thoughts

Overall, parents need to know that the content on TikTok is mostly PG-13 and with the language, definitely R-rated at times. I’m the Father to a 10 year old, and I’m not personally allowing it. But everyone’s home is different, and I respect that.

Allowing kids to watch TikTok or create their own videos can be a fun way for them to express their creativity and connect with friends. But, the online safety built-in to TikTok is probably not enough for most parents.

My advice is to download it, scroll through the For You page and decide for yourself if its best for your household. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. Once you start scrolling TikTok, you may end up dancing to Renegade as you make dinner.