Smart Safety: Parents’ Guide to Keeping Kids Safe On TikTok

 

With new technology evolving more rapidly each day, it can be tough for parents to keep up with the next big thing their kids are obsessing over online. Even if you don’t know exactly what it is, you’ve likely heard of the social media app called TikTok that tweens and teens can’t seem to get enough of. But many parents are unsure of the safety implications associated with the app and are wondering just how safe it is for their children. 

With kids as young as 10 years old taking part in the app, it’s imperative that parents understand what their kids are getting into and what risks are involved. All social media platforms—and the Internet in general—comes with some level of risk, and it’s no different for TikTok. Here are the age restrictions according to TikTok’s official guidelines: 

• The official age requirement to use TikTok is 13 years old. 

• Users between the ages of 13 and 15 have their account set to private by default. This prohibits them from utilizing the private messaging feature and only allows friends to comment on their videos. 

• Only users over the age of 16 can record live videos (also known as a “livestream”) or use the private messaging feature. 

• Buying, sending or receiving virtual gifts is restricted to users 18 and older. 

While these restrictions can help add extra levels of protection for young children involved in the app, it doesn’t eliminate them completely. With over one billion TikTok users and counting, the possibility of contact with strangers runs high—especially given the engaging, interactive nature of the social world of TikTok. Other possible threats include cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, and general data privacy concerns. 

While these risks shouldn’t be ignored, they aren’t meant to cause fear or deter social media use all together. Instead, they’re meant to empower you as a parent to be involved in the digital landscape your child participates in, and to understand how you can best protect your child in the online world. A safe TikTok experience is absolutely possible, so long as you take the right safety precautions up front!