As you may have noticed over the past few years, new social media platforms seem to crop up overnight–and they aren’t dangerous places by design. In case you aren’t familiar, TikTok is a particularly popular platform that allows users to connect with each other, creatively mix video and music to share updates, and take part in “challenges.”
But TikTok has also become a concern lately for parents wondering what steps they can take to keep their children safe. It stems from the general issue of overuse of media and screen time–which can be a challenge for parents who didn’t grow up with the same access to technology.
To help, I’ve put together a quick guide to help parents keep their kids safe on TikTok. If you want to discuss any of these or share ideas of your own, please feel free to reach out to me directly. As always, your family’s well-being remains a priority of mine.
- Read Up on the Rules
To start with, Tiktok states that only users aged 13 or older can create an account. This helps parents establish an immediate threshold with non-teens looking to get started. Users under the age of 18 are subject to different privacy settings–and while you can read about them here, they’re generally designed to limit how easy it is for unapproved users to find and interact with your child’s account.
- Exercise Parental Control
There’s an entire TikTok Guardian’s Guide that’s worth bookmarking. I recommend talking with your child about your expectations for their use and then setting up Family Pairing. This will make it easier for you to see who is interacting with your child as well as set screen time limits to make sure that both videos and homework get done.
- Talk About (Not To) Strangers
Much of the fun to be had on social media is the interaction (and potential 15 minutes of fame) that can come from others. Of course, not every stranger can be trusted, and predators can abound on any platform. Here, monitoring who is commenting on your child’s videos is just the start. Talk with your kids about what appropriate and inappropriate interactions look like. Limiting duets and commenting permissions can also place safe barriers.
- Be a Follower
While TikTok is geared toward Generation Z, parents, caregivers, and boomers alike should still create their own account. Here, you can easily follow and monitor your child’s posts and interactions as they happen. Being in touch with trending content (and memes) can also help you have relevant conversations around TikTok use as you navigate the platform with your kids.
- Know the Challenges
Following can give you another advantage when it comes to content. Challenges are one of the most popular types of video creation on TikTok. And while some are silly (like copycat dance moves set to viral hits), others can be dangerous. As you see trends pop up, you can talk to your child about safety concerns.
- Ask Them to Share
Getting a sense of the videos your child watches or finds entertaining can open the door for a bit of fun and a handful of meaningful conversations.. It’s impossible to shield kids from all of the objectionable content out there, but you can use what they see to have honest conversations about crucial topics in mental health, bullying, racism, violence, and more.
- Stay Up to Date
Did you know you can actually follow TikTok on TikTok? This can help keep you current on trending topics and challenges. You can also follow their Newsroom for updates on privacy settings that could affect who or what accesses your child’s content.
- Get in the Game
You already made that account to monitor your child. Why not start creating videos along with them? Even if you don’t think you’re camera ready, meeting your child where they are can help you develop connections and show interest in what they find entertaining. And who knows, maybe you’ll become the next big thing!
Bonus Bookmarks: Extra Resources for You
- Collaborative Guide from TikiTok and the National PTA
- TikTok Account and User Safety guidelines
- How to report content on TikTok
- Parent’s Guide from ConnectSafely
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about this information or need any legal guidance.
Ravosa Law Offices, PC 