As a parent, you want to ensure your kids are safe online. You likely already monitor their activity on social media and other websites. But what about TikTok? Because of its growing popularity, TikTok has overtaken Google as the most popular social media app, especially among kids and teens. The app allows users to create and share short videos of themselves lip-syncing or dancing to popular songs. TikTok has become a sensation among young people, but is it safe for kids?
If the streaming application is not supervised, kids could be at risk of being exposed to swearing, extremism, and disturbing content or even becoming addicted to it. Although management works closely with creators on implementing and promoting safe search initiatives for privacy, security, and well-being, parents still need to take certain precautions.
As TikTok continues to grow in popularity, parents wonder what the app is all about and whether or not their children should use it. TikTok is a social media app that allows users to create and share short videos with others. The app is designed for people of all ages, but it is popular with teenagers and young adults.
While TikTok is quite entertaining, some risks are associated with using the app. Parents should talk to their children about these risks before allowing them to use TikTok. For example, TikTok videos can be shared publicly, which means anyone can see them. This can be a problem if children share videos that contain personal information or are otherwise inappropriate for a public audience. Additionally, TikTok videos are often set to music, which might contain explicit lyrics.
Part 2: What Are the Dangers of TikTok?
While TikTok can be a fun and entertaining way to pass the time, some dangers are also associated with the app. These dangers include cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and the sharing of personal information. With these risks in mind, it is crucial to use TikTok responsibly and be aware of the potential dangers before using the app.
1: TikTok Scams: What Are They?
TikTok's algorithm usually promotes users who constantly post videos without verifying their identities, leading to many impersonation scams. The app did not keep a check on the authenticity of the content posted by its users. As a result, TikTok scams are becoming common.
It is reported that almost 60% of the TikTok comments are spam. The comment section is filled with scammers who would convince you to redirect to their desired page, and this is becoming the most common way for people to become victims of Ponzi schemes and unauthorized access to their phones.
TikTok Phishing Pages
A phishing attempt is a fake Email or Web page set up to steal your private data, such as account password or credential information, by deceiving you into believing you are on an official website. Do not share your credentials if you receive an email from TikTok without double-checking that it is official.
2: TikTok Porn: What Are They?
TikTok is heavily populated by young audiences, especially kids, where even a slightly wrong video or humorous discussion about pornography can become addictive. There are various short videos on TikTok, including
-Advertisements for joining OnlyFans profiles.
-Unethical videos in the name of Sex Education.
3: TikTok and Your Privacy Security
Since its launch, TikTok has been in the news for various privacy and security concerns. The app has been accused of collecting user data without consent and selling it to third-party companies. The application has finally introduced additional settings to address the longstanding privacy issue.
Here is how to implement it.
Create a strong password.
Click on Settings > Privacy.
There are various options to customize your experience with TikTok. You can customize safety options to choose who can perform certain actions on your videos.
You should always create a private account for your children to prevent them from sharing sensitive information with others.
4: What Data Does TikTok Collect?
TikTok, keep extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data. It collects search and browsing histories, keystroke patterns, individual preferences, biometric identifiers, draft messages, and metadata. Your viewing habits and the length of time you spend on particular content are analyzed. It knows where you are, your location, IP address, search history, the contents of your messages, whatever you are looking at, and how long you are viewing it.
The purpose of TikTok collecting data is to provide a personalized experience tailored to each user's preferences.
5: Does TikTok Share Data With Others?
In reality, social media platforms are not free. Advertisers pay for them in exchange for data about the ideal target audience. Applications, specifically TikTok, show their advertisements to users. That's how social media platform makes money.
TikTok clearly admits to sharing information with third-party cloud storage service providers, business partners, other companies in TikTok's group, content moderation services, advertisers, and analytics companies. Once required, TikTok may also share your information with law enforcement agencies and legislators.
Part 3: How to Keep Kids Safe on TikTok?
While TikTok is an excellent way for kids to connect with friends and express themselves creatively, it's essential to be aware of the potential dangers of TikTok and take steps to help keep your children safe while using the app. Parents must keep tabs on what their kids do on TikTok and other social media platforms. Look through their profiles and watch their videos to get an idea of the content they're exposed to.
Here are some effective tips to help keep your kids safe while using TikTok:
1Set up a Safe TikTok Account for Kids
As a parent, you'll need to set up a secure TikTok account for your tween before they can use TikTok. This means enable Restricted Mode, which will filter out inappropriate content, and setting up a parental control PIN. You should also add your child to a Family safety group, allowing you to manage their account and see what they're up to.
Once you've set up a safe account for your child, they can start exploring TikTok and its fun content. Just ensure they stay safe online by monitoring their activity.
2TikTok Younger Users Version
Another remarkable initiative of TikTok includes TikTok parental control functionality. The platform allows parents to create a TikTok account for their kids. This account will be separate from the parent's account and have age-appropriate content and settings.
This is excellent news for parents who have been concerned about the safety of their kids on TikTok. With this new feature, they can control what their kids see and do on the app and ensure they are only exposed to age-appropriate content. Here's how to set an account for younger users：
Open TikTok Application. Select Family Pairing.
Read the instructions and benefits of keeping TikTok family-friendly. Click Continue.
Choose one option to specify yourself as a Parent or Teen. You will see the respective QR code to customize your experience accordingly.
We find a kid-friendly TikTok tool for you, let's try AirDroid Parental Control
Help parents monitor and manage your children's devices. You can easily track children's location, check daily online activity, and schedule screen time & application usage.
Part 4: Kid-Friendly TikTok Tool: AirDroid Parental Control
There is no way to always keep an eye on kids' phones, behaviors, or online activities.AirDroid Parental Control is the perfect solution for monitoring your tween's social media activities. It has the most reliable TikTok tool that provides parents with peace of mind regarding their children's online safety. The app offers a wide range of features, including content filtering, activity monitoring, and real-time alerts.
It allows you to monitor your child's phone remotely, restrict certain harmful content and set realistic limits, get instant alerts if something goes wrong, and manage each app installed on their devices. Doing so will ensure that your kids are using the Internet responsibly. With AirDroid Parental Control, parents can easily monitor their children's TikTok activity and ensure they are not viewing inappropriate content. The app also offers a wide range of filters that can be customized to each family's needs.
Here is how to use AirDroid Parental Control right away.
Step 1. Get the AirDroid Parental Control app from the Google Play or App Store and install it on your device. Create an account and then log in.
Step 2. AirDroid Kids must be installed on the target phone. Configure some necessary settings and add precise information.
Step 3. Once AirDroid Kids is set up on your kid's phone. Enter the pairing code to connect the device. You can now monitor your kid's TikTok view history through the app.
Part 5: So, is TikTok Safe for Kids?
The management acknowledges the privacy and spamming issues. It has added updated privacy control settings under the Digital well-being section to your child's account to facilitate a safer experience on the platform.
In addition, TikTok takes proactive measures to ensure its platform is safe for kids. Despite this, many adult videos, extremism, and privacy concerns raise more questions, and TikTok struggles to deal with these issues.
By taking specific measures, such as content filtering, age restrictions, and most importantly, parental controls to get instant alerts, you can make your platform safe for children. You should set up a kid's TikTok account for tweens. The parent should pay attention to the child's TikTok activities, which could prevent TikTok from damaging the child's physical and psychological health and help the child build a good online green path.
Part 6: FAQs about TikTok App Safety
2. Can Kids under 13 Use TikTok?
No. As a rule, kids can only get access to TikTok with permission from their parents and guardians if they are 13 years of age or older.
3. Can I Remove My Information on TikTok?
Yes. Users can remove their information on TikTok.
Step 1: Open Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to applications.
Step 3: Select the TikTok app.
Step 4: Click on clear data .
4. Should I Let My Kid Use TikTok?
Depending on the age of your kids, you can allow them to watch TikTok at your discretion. TikTok is an excellent way for children to express their creativity. TikTok is where children and their parents can watch funny videos, follow famous people, and even post a few of their own. When used responsibly, TikTok can be a great way to keep your children entertained and happy.
5. How to Report Inappropriate Content on the TikTok App?
Following these steps, you can report a video on TikTok that violates the Community Guidelines.
Step 1: Go to the video content you need to report.
Step 2: Press and hold on to the video.
Step 3: Select Report and follow the instructions provided.
6. Will TikTok Affect My Child's Mental Health?
Your child may feel depressed and anxious if they spend most of their time on TikTok and social media, with no real friends or interests outside the app. If they are using it to deal with their anxiety from school or other social problems, then it could increase the anxiety's severity.