TikTok for kids is one of the biggest social media apps among young people.
According to a report, TikTok is the 6th most popular social media platform. It has over 3 billion downloads and Nigeria has the third-highest amount of app downloads.
As a parent, it can be overwhelming to stay current with social media developments but like any platform, exposing personal information poses a high risk, including the possibility of cyberbullying and exposure to potentially harmful activities.
But fortunately, there are safety measures parents can adopt to make TikTok for kids safer if they are already active users of the platform.
Here are 7 safety guides parents need to know about TikTok for kids:
1. TikTok Age Limit For Kids:
The first safety measure to using TikTok for kids is the age limit policy.
TikTok has an age limit of thirteen which means that users must be 13 years old or older to register for an account. It is important that your child uses an actual age. This will help protect young users from potentially harmful content. With the age policy, content that endangers minors is usually taken off their timelines.
For instance, with the age limitation, account users under the age of 16 can’t use direct messaging (DMs) or host a live stream and their content will not appear on the “For You” page. Also, users under the age of 18 also can’t send or receive gifts using TikTok’s virtual gifting features.
2. Turn on “Digital Wellbeing” Settings:
This feature helps kids gain control over how much time they spend on social media by reminding them to take a break from the app after a single lengthy sitting online.
To set up the “Digital Wellbeing” feature, tap on the Settings gear icon, then Privacy and Settings. Click “Digital Wellbeing”. Then, tap “Turn on”. Enter a passcode that will be difficult for your child to guess so that they cannot skip “Digital Wellbeing”.
However, it will take 30 days for the passcode to expire if you forget it, after which you can reset it.
3. Set Up “Family Pairing” on TikTok:
Another safety guide to using TikTok for kids is to set up “Family Pairing”.
For this feature, as a parent, you will also need to download TikTok on your phone and create an account. Then, get your child’s phone and their TikTok login details.
On both phones, tap the three dots next to your profile; tap “Family Pairing” and sync your account to your child’s account using the QR code.
Family Pairing on TikTok offers some helpful privacy and security settings. You can control who can message your child, who can leave comments on their content, who can check their profile, or view their likes.
4. Monitor Influencers and Followers:
It is essential that parents also closely monitor children who begin to have a presence on any social media platform. By doing so, you will learn a lot about what your child likes by seeing who they follow and who they engage with.
If they must be active on TikTok, help them follow motivational, informative and educational accounts. These accounts in addition to sharing inspiring content will also provide various education-related topics.
You can also set social media boundaries stating that your child can only produce videos that either teach something or help someone and offer examples in their interest areas.
@greenspringsschool Everything happening to you is being drawn into your life as a means to help you evolve into who you were really meant to be. #OprahWinfrey ♬ original sound – Greensprings School
To ensure they are not breaking any rules or endangering themselves, supervise how they use the app and constantly review their videos.
5. Set TikTok For Kids Account To Private:
Setting TikTok for kids to private gives the freedom to secure their account from users, not in their contact. With this feature, users have the option to restrict people from sending comments and direct messages.
To set this up, go to your child’s account profile page and tap on the three dots in the top right corner. Then select “Privacy and Settings”. From the options select “Privacy and Safety” options and toggle “Private Account” on / off. You can set their account to private with the privacy setting.
Using the ‘’Friends” option also makes your child’s TikTok account personal.
6. Turn Off The Location Service On TikTok:
A great safety measure using TikTok for kids is turning off geolocation.
Some location features make it possible for anyone to find a user in person which could put users at risk of unwanted contact with strangers.
Having user location off on TikTok, your child can still connect with friends and family on TikTok without sharing too much information.
Open the “Settings” menu and tap the “Location” tab. And then, tap on the “App Permission” option to get started.
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@greenspringsschoolYou are valuable. #GSLNigeria #ThinkingSchool #AliciaKeys #Motivation♬ original sound – Greensprings School
7. Know How and When To Report:
You can report any bullying, inappropriate content, abusive live video, comment or anything else on TikTok.
Reporting abuse, whether it is aimed at you or someone else, leaves a documentation trail for the platform and can have serious repercussions for the abuser.
Additionally, using TikTok for kids can be a creative social platform despite the odds. It lets users watch, create, and share videos in a fun way. Its editing tools also simplify the video creation process and make children produce videos that look professional without hassle.
