TIK TOK
TIK TOK
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MINIMUM AGE: 18+
WHAT IS IT? TikTok is a short-form video sharing platform where users create and watch content—often set to music or audio clips. Popular genres include dance trends, comedy skits, tutorials, beauty routines, storytelling, and viral challenges. WHAT WE SAY? Use with caution. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Even with moderation, users may encounter violent content, explicit language, sexualised videos, drug references, or content promoting eating disorders or self-harm. TikTok’s fast-paced nature means inappropriate content can appear unexpectedly. ⚠️ Viral Challenges & Dangerous Trends From risky stunts to encouraging theft or harm, some viral challenges can lead to real-world danger. TikTok often reacts after the fact—removing harmful content only after it's gone viral. 💬 Direct Messaging Strangers can send DMs, especially if your child interacts with trending content. Messages can include harassment, grooming attempts, or inappropriate requests. DM access is only allowed for users aged 16+, but fake ages are common. 🧠 Addiction & Mental Wellbeing TikTok’s endless scroll and personalised content are designed to hook users for hours. This can disrupt sleep, study, or real-life interaction. Many teens report feeling anxious, addicted, or emotionally drained from app use. 📉 Low Self-Esteem & Pressure to Perform TikTok's emphasis on likes, views, and aesthetic trends can lead to body image issues, anxiety, and social pressure. Many creators feel the need to constantly look perfect, go viral, or meet unrealistic beauty standards. 👤 Influencer Culture & Unrealistic Lifestyles Teens are often exposed to influencers showing edited, filtered, luxury-focused content. This can create unhealthy comparisons and materialistic expectations. 📱 Features to Know About 🔻TikTok LIVE (18+): Can include adult content or solicitations 🔻Duet & Stitch: May be used to mock, copy, or harass other creators 🔻Comment Sections: Can be toxic or bullying in tone 🔻Reposts: Users may reshare others’ content without consent 🔐 Data Privacy Concerns TikTok has faced multiple investigations over how it collects and uses data, especially from underage users. Concerns include data tracking, profiling, location data, and unclear third-party sharing policies. |
🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with TikTok's features and how they work. Knowing how the app works will help you guide your child effectively. ✅Privacy Controls - All teen accounts are now set to private by default, ensuring that only approved followers can view their content. If they already have an account learn how to switch your child's account to a 'Private Account' by following TikTok's guidance on privacy settings. This limits who can see their posts and engage with them. ✅Family Pairing Mode - This feature allows parents to link their TikTok account to their teen’s, giving them control over content, screen time, and privacy settings, making it easier to manage their child’s online activity. ✅Download Restrictions - Videos, created by users registered as 13-15, cannot be downloaded by others, adding an extra layer of privacy for younger users. 👨👧Parental supervision: Check their interactions and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Try to stay up-to-date on Internet trends and best practices. 📢Underage Accounts: Meet Me might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles and targeting children and young people. 👥Manage friend requests: Teach your child only to accept friend requests from people they know in real life. 📷 Cover the Webcam When Not in Use Physically cover your camera when you're not ready to go live. Always be mindful of what’s visible in your background—it can reveal location clues. 🧠 Trust Your Instincts If something feels uncomfortable, it is uncomfortable. Leave the chat immediately and don’t engage with users who seem suspicious, aggressive, or inappropriate. 🖥️ Place Devices in Shared Spaces Keep internet-connected devices in living rooms or kitchens, not bedrooms. This makes risky behavior less likely and easier to notice. 🙋♀️Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. 🚨 Know the Signs of Trouble Watch for behaviour changes—like anxiety, secrecy, mood swings, or suddenly deleting apps. These can signal something inappropriate happened online. 💬Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. |
