Is TikTok safe for kids? How to keep your child safe on TikTok and other social media channels
The most popular social media apps are constantly changing, and it can be difficult for parents to keep up. A new video-sharing app — TikTok — is now among the most ubiquitous — particularly among teens.
Considering how popular the social app has became — and the fact that it was recently stuck in the media spotlight amid concerns over potential issues regarding privacy — many parents are likely asking if TikTok is safe for their child. Like all social media apps, TikTok comes with some risks for kids and teens.
While each family may have its own set of rules for how it deals with technology, it is critical that parents communicate that expectation in advance to kids. Discover the importance of knowing your child’s online activity and how to promote online safety in the modern digital age.
What are the risks of TikTok for children and teens?
TikTok poses many of the same risks as the broader Internet. For example, there’s always the chance that your child will be shown by the site age-inappropriate material like violent lyrics, dangerous stunts, or sexual content. If your child is on TikTok too much, that too can get in the way of other things they need to do for their development, like reading or playing outside.
Furthermore, and I am sure with apps, you also have to remember that you are passing along info about yourself, and that carries some potential risks as well. One of TikTok’s most unique risks is how easily it enables people to produce and post visual content.
Kids might not understand that releasing a video is basically telling people on the Internet things about you. A video explains what someone looks like, how old they are, sometimes their location and other details about them.
The ability to send private messages and to comment also enables potential predators to engage your child under the guise of being a younger child. Predators can befriend your child with these features, which could put your child in physical danger. Older children themselves, already educated about general privacy risks, can even be too rash when uploading videos that can impact their futures.
Finally, there are some kids who seek validation or praise from other kids, they may find affirmation or praise through social media apps like TikTok. If a video does not perform well, or leads to negative comments, this can lower their self-esteem and/or make them feel alone. This is one way too much time on TikTok can affect a child’s mental health, just like too much time on the Internet can.
When is TikTok safe for your child?
(Although full use of TikTok is supposed to be limited to ages 13 and up, kids can easily circumvent this by entering a false birthdate.) Although the app makers advise that all users be older than 13, that doesn’t mean your teenager is necessarily ready for TikTok.
Age is just one factor. All parents have to make a decision about the age their child can safely use the Internet.
You are very young, but you should determine your child’s level of responsibility self-regulation and impulsivity. Remember that even slightly older teens are still developing self-regulation, so they may still post things to TikTok they regret later.
How do I keep my child safe on TikTok?
Parents can enable parental controls as well to limit what content young kids can see. But don’t simply set your controls and never check back in with your child again. If children uninstall the app after seeing the controls, and then reinstall it, those controls will disappear. Parents should check the app regularly to verify the controls remain in place.
Regardless of age, have a conversation with your child about setting their privacy controls as high as they can. You can sign up for an account yourself to read about the controls that are in place and how the app works. You don’t have to follow your child’s account just because you have an account, but at least you can have the knowledge and experience with the app to help your child configure it securely.
Discuss the potential threats that the app can pose to your child, such as connecting with random strangers or posting content that gets kids in trouble. Discuss what boundaries should be put around TikTok use, like what types of videos are acceptable to post and how often they’re allowed to use it. With older kids, you can have a discussion to establish reasonable limits as well as reasonable consequences if those rules aren’t followed. But you, as their parent, need to have the final say, even if your teen isn’t thrilled with the rules you think are important to keep them safe.
When you define limits and rules, remember to tell your child that if they come to you with safety concerns, there will be no negative consequences.
As you child will be using the app, make sure you are informed and take a genuine interest in their TikTok videos.
Ask them to share their favorite videos with you. Chat with them about what they like about the app. Offer to shoot videos for them. So all of this is a chance to understand what they are doing and at the same time rewarding them for being responsible, safe and maybe even doing something creative or artistic.”
You can also inquire about any friends they’ve made online and what kinds of videos they share. These queries should be out of legitimate curiosity and not to invade your child’s privacy — unless, of course, you have cause for concern.
While you want to work with your child as much as possible to help stay safe online, you may want to limit access if it’s causing you concerns about their safety. If you believe your child has posted something inappropriate or is using TikTok safely, it’s perfectly acceptable to revoke their access to the app or, if necessary, replace their smartphone with a flip phone.
You are the parent at the end of the day. Children do not have a right to social media apps—they are a privilege. The safety of your child matters the most!
