What Parents Need to Know. How Safe is TikTok for Children?

As a parent, you've probably already heard of TikTok—whether your child is on it or keeps asking for permission to join. Before saying yes, understand what TikTok is, why it's so popular, and what risks come with it.

TikTok allows users to create and share short videos, often set to music or sound effects, making it a hub for creativity and entertainment. Its appeal lies in the continuous flow of engaging content, viral challenges, and opportunities for self-expression. However, this popularity also raises concerns about privacy, exposure to inappropriate material, and cyberbullying.

Fortunately, it also offers more parental control tools than other similar apps, so you can manage your child's experience on the app. Knowing these privacy and parental control features empowers you to guide your child toward safe and responsible usage.

How TikTok Works

TikTok users sign up with a phone number, an email address, or Facebook and Instagram accounts. Once logged in, one can find videos by searching for popular creators, categories and hashtags.

Users can use phone contacts or social media followers to find friends already on the app. Many kids on TikTok like to create videos, but others just use the app to follow and watch various content creators.

TikTok is popular for:

Content Creation: Users can film videos from 15 seconds to three minutes, edit them with filters, effects, and soundtracks, and then share them on their profiles.
Engagement Features: Users can like, comment on, and share videos, allowing for interaction and community building. Trends often emerge from popular videos, inspiring others to create their own versions, which can lead to a cycle of content creation and sharing.
Algorithm Dynamics: TikTok's algorithm curates a personalized feed known as the "For You Page," showcasing videos based on user interests and interactions. This algorithm can significantly influence what content users are exposed to.

How Safe is TikTok?

TikTok has varying rules based on users' ages.

For kids under 13, TikTok provides a more controlled experience. They can watch content but can't post, comment, or interact, and what they see is specifically tailored for younger audiences.
For users aged 13 to 15, TikTok accounts are automatically set to private. Only approved friends can comment on their posts and features like duets (where others can collaborate on a video) are restricted.
Teens aged 16 and older can start using more interactive features like direct messaging and livestreaming. However, the option to send or receive virtual gifts is only available for users 18 and above.

To promote healthy screen habits, TikTok introduced a 60-minute daily limit for users under 18. After this time, a password is required to continue using the app. This step helps parents manage screen time more effectively.

The Dangers of TikTok: What Parents Should Be Aware Of

Exposure to Inappropriate Content: Although TikTok has rules against harmful and explicit content, some inappropriate videos can still appear - clips with explicit language, suggestive themes, or dangerous challenges that could promote risky behavior. The app features two main feeds: the "For You Page" (FYP), which is the first thing you see when opening the app, and a "Following" feed that shows posts from users you choose to follow. Although the FYP is supposed to be suitable for younger audiences, various factors can influence what shows up, and not all content is age-appropriate.
Cyberbullying. Hurtful comments, harassment, and the sharing of embarrassing videos can significantly affect children. Videos that are not considered cool may be labeled as "cringey," making them targets for ridicule by bullies. Furthermore, the app enables users to create multiple accounts, allowing bullies to hide behind aliases and engage in trolling more easily, especially through features like "Reactions."
Privacy Concerns: TikTok collects extensive user data, which raises questions about privacy and security. The app's default settings may expose personal information, such as location and contact lists.
Addiction: TikTok can be addictive, leading to excessive screen time that negatively impacts mental health and wellbeing. The endless stream of engaging content makes it difficult for children to disengage, which can result in sleep issues, increased anxiety, and decreased academic performance.
Dangerous Trends and Challenges: TikTok is also famous for its viral challenges, some of which can be harmful. From the "Tide Pod Challenge" to risky stunts such as the "choking game" or The "Kiki Challenge," encouraging people to jump out of a moving car and then dance alongside it, these trends can entice children to partake in dangerous activities to gain likes or followers.

Manage Your Child's TikTok Settings

To begin, open the TikTok app on your child's device. From their profile page, look for the three dots located in the upper right corner of the screen. Tapping on these dots will take you to the "Settings and Privacy" section. Here you can:

Set the Account to Private

Scroll down to find the "Privacy and safety" option under the "Account" section. Here, you can toggle on the option for a Private Account.

A private account restricts who can see your child's content, ensuring that only approved followers can view their videos.

Customize Interaction Settings

In the "Safety" section, you can customize various interaction settings:

Comments: Control who can comment on your child's videos by selecting from "Everyone," "Friends," or "Off." Limiting comments to friends or disabling them altogether can reduce exposure to negative interactions.
Duets and Reactions: Choose who can duet with your child or react to their videos. Again, the "Friends" setting or turning these features off entirely is recommended.
Direct Messages: Decide who can send your child messages. This feature can be set to "Everyone," "Friends," or "Off." Keeping this to "Friends" or "Off" further protects your child from unknown contacts.

Additional Privacy Features

Activity Status: Control whether your child's activity status is visible to others, allowing friends to see when they are active on the app.
Profile Views and Post Views History: This feature allows you to keep track of who has viewed your child's profile and posts, which can help you monitor engagement.
Video Downloads: You can decide whether to allow others to download your child's videos. It's best to turn this feature off to prevent unauthorized sharing.

TikTok Parental Controls

TikTok provides several options for parents to manage their children's accounts.

Family Pairing

This feature allows you to manage your child's account directly from your own device. To get started, you'll need to download the TikTok app and create your own account if you haven't done so already. Then, have your child's phone handy, along with their TikTok login information.

To set it up:

Open the app on both your phone and your child's phone.
Tap the three dots in the top right corner of the profile page on both devices.
Select "Family Pairing" and follow the prompts to sync your accounts using a QR code. This will link your accounts, allowing you to access settings and controls easily.

Screen Time Management

Here's how you can set daily time limits on your child's TikTok usage:

Go to your child's TikTok profile and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
Select "Digital Wellbeing," which is represented by an umbrella icon.
From there, you'll find the "Screen Time Management" option. This allows you to set daily limits for how long your child can use the app.

Set a passcode to protect this setting so that your child can't change it.

Filter Content to Keeping It Age-Appropriate

Restricted Mode helps filter out inappropriate content.

Here's how to enable it:

In the "Digital Wellbeing" section, you'll see the "Restricted Mode" option.

This setting helps block mature content, making the app safer for your child. Like with screen time limits, you can secure this setting with a passcode to prevent your child from turning it off.

Keep in mind, however, that even with Restricted Mode on, there's still a chance your child may encounter age-inappropriate videos, so it's essential to discuss internet safety with them.

How to Keep Children Safe on TikTok

Set up the account with the correct age.

TikTok is intended for users aged 13 and older. Ensure your child has entered their correct birth year so these settings can work.

App settings according to their age:

Daily screen limit of 60 minutes (teens)
Accounts private by default (teens)
Can't host a LIVE (teens)
Financial transactions feature disabled (teens)
The "Suggest Your Account to Others" feature is turned off (all teens)
No FYP feed (kids 13–15)
No direct messaging access (kids 13–15)
No duet or stitch features (kids 13–15)
Their videos may not be downloaded (kids 13–15)
Only their friends may comment on their posts (kids 13–15)
No push notifications after 9 p.m. (kids 13–15)
No push notifications after 10 p.m. (teens 16–17)

Talk with kids about online safety

Discuss what they encounter on the app and why it's important to have a private account. Encourage them only to connect with people they know in real life. Make sure they understand the potential dangers of sharing personal information online and the importance of reporting anything that makes them uncomfortable.

To enhance security, consider using a parental control app, such as Bitdefender Parental Control, which comes with all Bitdefender paid security solutions. Bitdefender Parental Control helps you filter out inappropriate content, set screen time limits, and monitor their activities for any red flags —all without intruding on their personal space.

FAQs

Is TikTok safe for my child?

TikTok can be safer if the right measures are implemented and when parents understand its features and limitations. This includes setting accounts to private, limiting screen time, and using the app's parental control options and Bitdefender Parental Control.

How to check if my child is on TikTok?

To check if your child is on TikTok, start by having an open conversation with them about their online activities. If they are reluctant to share, you can search for their username directly within the TikTok app. If you don't know their username, try searching for their first name along with any details that might help narrow it down. You can also look for signs of TikTok usage, like notifications or discussions about TikTok trends. Additionally, if they use a shared family device, check for the app's presence and any logged-in accounts.

How can I restrict content on my child's TikTok?

To restrict content on your child's TikTok, you can use the app's Digital Wellbeing features, which include Screen Time Management and Restricted Mode. These settings allow you to limit how long your child spends on the app each day and block mature content. To access these features, go to your child's profile, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select Digital Wellbeing.

Should I follow my child on TikTok?

Following your child on TikTok can have both benefits and drawbacks. On the positive side, it helps you stay informed about the content they create and interact with, fostering open communication about their online experiences. This connection can also enable you to monitor their safety and ensure they're engaging with appropriate content.

The downside is that your child might feel uncomfortable knowing you're watching their TikTok activity, which could create tension if you disapprove of what they post.

Before deciding to follow them, discuss how they feel about it and establish guidelines together.