TikTok is a social media and entertainment platform where users can share photos and videos, private message and also shop. Today, TikTok is used by almost 70 percent of U.S. teens and half of the U.S. population.
The basics
- TikTok provides personalised content on its “For You Page” feed
- People can create and post videos, applying filters, music, and effects
- Videos can go viral, even if the creator doesn’t have a large following
- Often viewed as a creative outlet for youth, like singing, dancing, artwork etc
- People can also earn money through products and engagement
Dangerous viral challenges
- ‘Blackout Challenge’: Inducing unconsciousness through choking
- ‘Borg Challenge’: Excessive drinking
- ‘Benadryl Challenge’: Taking high doses of Benadryl
- ‘Devious Licks Challenge’: Stealing or vandalizing property
- ‘Skull-Breaker Challenge’: Tripping someone so they fall backward
- ‘Fire Challenge’: Setting oneself on fire
How to improve your child’s safety on TikTok
Comply with age restrictions: Ensure your teen is at least 13 years old before using TikTok.
Maintain open dialogue: Discuss social media usage and privacy settings regularly with your child. Talk about social media more generally with your child, as well. Watch for the latest news and updates about these platforms and try to engage your children in those discussions so that they can make better informed decisions for themselves.
Consider Establishing and/or Monitoring Their Account: If you decide to allow your child to use TikTok, consider setting up their account. This means creating the account, selecting the strongest safety settings, and then using the account yourself for some period before handing it over to them. But also, if you are able, watch the For You Feed for at least a full five minutes every few days. This will inform you as to what TikTok is choosing for your child and is a key step in identifying potential harms. Because there is no way to control your child’s algorithmic programming and it can change at any time, you should continue to do this even if you are comfortable with their feed every time you check.
Periodic Programming: Discuss the dangerous of algorithmic programming regularly with your child and help them to take affirmative steps to program all social media accounts to be less potentially harmful. For example, run searches for positive topics and scroll through and interact with positive topics (“like”) on a regular basis, and caution them against watching potentially harmful topics.
Encourage Reporting: Where TikTok provides options for blocking and reporting, encourage your child to use those options and use them yourself. Use of these options may not only keep them safer but may keep other children safer as well.
Monitor activity: To the extent you are able, follow your child and their friends on TikTok to stay informed about their online interactions and interests.
Utilize parental control features:
- Familiarize yourself and your teen with all available parental control and safety features.
- Investigate any such settings TikTok offers and consider and discuss them with your child; set the greatest safety settings offered. This includes, but is not limited to,
- Set time limits.
- Set accounts to private.
- Manage privacy and safety settings.
Device Restrictions:
- If TikTok is restricted from downloading, teens can still access TikTok via web browsers.
- TikTok is accessible on other internet-connected devices.
Guides supported by The Social Media Victims Law Center
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