If your kids are anything like mine, they’re probably obsessed with TikTok, the viral social media site where users create and upload short videos onto the app. But TikTok isn’t just harmless fun full of viral life hacks, dance covers, or silly video clips. It is also home to dangerous trends and a lot of sexual content. Likely, you may have questions such as: Is TikTok safe for kids? Should my child be on TikTok? How do I keep them safe? Read on for what you need to know about online safety and this wildly popular app.
What is TikTok?
Ways your child can use TikTok safely
Given this information, many parents might react like Dre Siu, a mom of three (of whom two are teenagers). “Sorry, no TikTok here,” she told Mom.com. “The kids have no social media and I think it’s good for them.”
However, for other families, a total ban might not be feasible or desirable.
“The creativity of creating on TikTok is really great for kids,” play expert Jeff Harry explained to Mom.com. “The consuming part is where it gets dangerous and needs to be monitored. The reality of this is that this form of creation is just going to be normal going forward, so if kids aren’t learning this, then that’s another form of communication they’re losing out on.”
So what can you as a parent do?
Use the restricted mode or family pairing functions
Enabling restricted mode isn’t perfect, but it should limit mature content on your child’s profile. You can also report inappropriate content in this mode. You can also link your TikTok account with your child’s, which allows you to manage their privacy settings.
Set screen time limits
Just as you are likely to get caught up in doomscrolling, your kids can, too. Working mom Patti Chang told us that though her teenager doesn’t have a TikTok account, “she gets 5 minutes on the site so if a friend shares, she can see it but not enough to browse.”
Monitor your kids’ activity
“See what clips they are interested in watching. Notice what they comment on. Ask what they think about different information that is shared. Do this a few times,” behavior specialist Marcie Beigel, Ed.D. BCBA-D shared with Mom.com. “If your child is engaging with content that is age appropriate, learning new things, and questioning content that is questionable, then it may just be time for them to have access themselves. If not, you may want to wait a little longer and try again.”
