It offers kids an endless stream of entertaining video, whether it involves dancing, cooking or pranks. Our app reviews will guide you toward the best apps for this age group, and steer you away from the ones that aren't worth your time. TikTok is no exception to this trend. You can also browse and interact with other users' content, which covers a wide range of topics, songs, and styles. TikTok's official age requirement is 13 years old. These videos can be grouped by hashtags, which often correspond to challenges, memes, or current events (like #pandemiclife). By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. The platform uses algorithms to show users different video content based on their interests and other videos they watch. While this doesnt eliminate security risks or mental health safety, its a great place to start. For kids age 13 to 15, accounts are private by default; only friends can comment on videos, and other users can't duet (explained below) with your videos nhc nn - SharkTank. Keep an open and honest discussion about theirand yourdigital literacy and footprint.". TikTok is no exception. Not to mention anonymous users sending inappropriate messages. The platform also has communication features that allow users to privately message each other which could put your child at risk of being contacted by someone they dont know. The presence of cyberbullies, predators, and inappropriate content makes the platform a dangerous place. How can I monitor my kid's activity on TikTok? Parents want to keep their kids safe not only at school, in the playground, and at home but online too. Even though the app makers recommend that all users be older than 13, that doesn't automatically mean your teenager is ready for TikTok. If you're not a fan of these features or don't want other users putting your videos into theirs, you can disable them so that no one can Duet or Stitch your video. This allows full access to mature content such as sexually explicit themes, drug-related activities, and violence. Restricted Mode. TikTok is also a lot more . What to do if you're worried about something a child has experienced online. When Abram came out from the cave, he was 10 years old. Users can also earn TikTok Reward points by inviting friends to download the app, and then they can redeem those points for coupons from brands like Sephora and Uber. Nonetheless, the case is a reason parents should remain vigilant against data abuses, she says. If your child spends too much time on TikTok, it could also interfere with other things they should be doing for their development, like reading or playing outside. What is TikTok?How safe is TikTok?How does TikTok work?Is TikTok appropriate for kids?What age is TikTok recommended for?Can kids under 13 use TikTok?How can you make your TikTok account private?How can I use TikTok with my kids?How do you do a duet on TikTok?What are TikTok challenges?Does TikTok have parental controls?How can I monitor my kid's activity on TikTok?What if my kid wants to get famous on TikTok?Should I be concerned about TikTok's security? Your information is safe and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. The question Is TikTok safe for kids? keeps parents up at night. TikTok allows creators to access popular songs to edit their videos, some of which contain harsh curse words and sexual language. Not to mention, the part of a teens brain that is responsible for rational thinking is not fully developed until their mid-20s. If you have a public account and you're over 16 years old, anyone on TikTok can access your profile and watch your videos. Choosing to monitor your child on social media can be a difficult decision, but doing whats best for their safety is the priority. For any age child, talk to them about setting their privacy controls as strongly as possible. Just as it says, this feature lets you manage screen time by having you choose between a 40-, 60-, 90-, or 120-minute time limit per day on the app. Childrens Health is proud to become the first pediatric health system in the country to offer Amazon Lockers, self-service kiosks that allow you to pick up your Amazon packages when and where you need them most 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For example, they only recently fixed a bug that allowed the app to access users' clipboards (where things you copy and paste are stored) every three seconds, even when they weren't using the app. If you have any concerns at all about a childs safety or wellbeing, dont hesitate to contact us. Children's Health will not sell, share or rent your information to third parties. Who you follow and what you like can give others more information than you might want to share, but you can easily set TikTok so that no one but you can see your follower list and liked videos. Ask your teen who they like to follow, what their friends are doing on the app, and stay in touch with whats going on. They can be songs, activities, or dances that start trending and then get copied by users on the platform. Guides and resources for parents. Nelson Aguilar is an LA-based tech how-to writer and graduate of UCLA. These are all opportunities to get a better feel for what they are doing while also giving them positive reinforcement for being responsible, safe, and maybe even creative or artistic. Under Digital Wellbeing, youll also see Restricted Mode. The lawsuit that led to their Under 13 version of the app occurred because they illegally stored the data of minors. behavior, communication, safety, self-esteem, social media, social skills. They care little about age, circumstance, or the well-being of others. Currently, the app is available in 75 languages with over 1 billion active users (Jan 2021). You could even suggest creating a video together, like filming yourself taking part in a dance challenge. We respect your privacy. Age is just one factor. TikTok created a Younger Users experience for kids under 13 who want to explore the social media site with less risk. Should I be concerned about TikTok's security? For instance, there is always potential that your child will be exposed to age-inappropriate content like explicit lyrics, dangerous stunts or sexual content. For kids age 13 to 15, accounts are private by default. I'd be less worried about the content and more the affect it has on their mental health, take it from 19 year old whos pretty socially active. To do this, go toProfile>three-dash menu>Settings and privacy>Privacy and then: The Duet and Stitch features are fun, but they can also get out of control. Is TikTok Safe for Kids? document.getElementById('enableRecite').addEventListener("click", function() { Users include those with non-gaming interests like anime, TV series, music, and more. As a parent or guardian of a TikTok user, its important you make sure your child has the right privacy settings in place. But as kids have been continuing to hit download, parents are still wondering if it's safe. Our children are living in a digital world. However, the Under 13 function of TikTok is safe for children who dont meet the age requirements. Accessibility, Six safety settings to help keep your child safe, Online safety for families and children with SEND, The Omaze Million Pound House Draw winners announced, Promoting your fundraising on social media, London Landmarks Skyscraper Challenge 2023. However, while TikTok is fun, the same elements that make TikTok a digital playground for kids also pose some serious security issues. Here's why: 1. Accounts for children between ages 13-15 will not receive push notifications after 9 p.m. For teens between ages 16-17, push notifications will be disabled after 10 p.m. Users between the ages 16 and 17 must actively switch their settings to enable direct messaging. However, if your video is in a duet or you're on a livestream with multiple hosts, it's possible that a blocked account may be able to see those videos. And according to The Wall Street Journal, doctors in multiple countries are reporting a rise in teen girls developing severe physical tics, and that anxiety, depression, and TikTok could be contributing factors. But some, such as the skull-breaker, are really dangerous. TikTok is intended for 13+ users according to the app's community guidelines. If that's a problem, you'll need to individually block any followers that you don't want seeing your videos. If a video doesn't perform well or generates negative comments, this might lower their self-esteem and/or make them feel lonely. After changing to a private account, only users that you approve can follow your account and watch your videos, but existing followers are allowed to continue following you. Using the Friends setting or turning those features off completely limits contact with strangers. To set up your account, open up the site on your browser or download the app on your device and then sign up for an account. TikTok is a video-shared focused social media site launched in 2016 that has been downloaded over two billion times and has over 600 million users, as of this year. Hi, I'm Ashley Potter. Comments on any social media service can quickly turn hostile, and TikTok is no exception. Many kids on TikTok like to create videos, but plenty of people don't post themselvesthey just use the app to find and follow content creators. 2K Likes, TikTok video from SharkTank (@sharktank_tiktok): "A 10-year-old girl introduces a safe and fun spoon design for kids - Part 2 #sharktank #foryou #fyp #projectpollo #deal #money #show #foryoupage #fyp". TikTok also offers some tools for parents and caregivers to limit how much time kids spend on the app and what kids can see. According to the terms of service, you have to be 13, but there's no age-verification process, so it's very easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Even with limits, it's easy to find people wearing revealing clothing and dancing suggestively, although TikTok won't let you search for objectionable content such as "porn.". If you have kids on TikTok, or even use the service yourself, it's important to familiarize yourself with all the features and settings TikTok provides to help bolster your privacy. also familiarize yourself with TikToks security settings to make sure those settings are as optimized as possible. As with social media apps like Instagram and Snapchat, TikTok has a commercial element that encourages people to buy stuff. loadService(); While every family may have different rules when it comes to technology, it's important for parents to be clear about those expectations with children. Your child's safety is the most important thing. Learn about the dangers of TikTok and how to keep your child safe by reading our article here. Here are some tips to set up your own account: Now, youve got your TikTok account. Extensively tested by our experts. Learn more about Amazon Lockers. The private message and comment features also allow potential predators to connect with your child while posing as a younger kid. It's almost impossible to change an incorrect birthday (this article explains how to submit a support ticket to request a birthday change).All users ages 13-15 (no one under 13 is supposed to use the app) automatically have the following features disabled (as of January 2021): The app can be safe for teens with proper parental guidance. The default is referred to as "For You," which is an algorithmically generated stream of videos similar to Instagram's Explore page, Wired explains. Make sure your child signs up to TikTok with the correct age All accounts created by 13-16-year-olds are set to private by default. Is Tiktok Safe for 10-Year-Olds? Additionally, by using apps, it's important to be aware that you are sharing personal information, and that can come with some risks. TikTok has a feature that allows two users who aren't in the same place to perform a duet. Still, the app collects a significant amount of information regardless. Toggle mobile navigation and focus the search field, Preparing for Your Visit or Stay at Children's, Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical Bills. No place on the internet is entirely safe for kids, including the TikTok app. The app is designed for adults, and there are a lot of other good social media apps designed specifically for younger users, like PopJam. ", Not unlike Twitter or Facebook, TikTok might lead to cyberbullying and trolling. If these options are activated, TikTok and its third-party business partners will track internet activity so they can show your teen more relevant ads. Children of all ages utilize the platform for entertainment and communication and to gain a social following. Only users over the age of 16 can record live videos or use the private messaging feature. To make your account private: If your TikTok account is private, only those you accept as friends will be able to see your videos. No, TikTok does not promote a safe environment for kids below 13 as it is home to mature and vulgar content. Fellowship and Subspecialty Training Programs, Child Life and Music Therapy Training Opportunities, Pediatric Clinical Trials & Experimental Medication, Resources for Transgender Youth and Their Families. On both phones, tap the three dots next to the user profile. This way, they can have fun creating, socializing, and connecting. It can also be an easy-to-use group-chatting tool for friends. Heres what we suggest you explore and pay attention to in the app: Family Pairing doesnt allow you to monitor your childs activity. Use these settings to manage it. TikTok offers Restricted Mode, which was designed to filter mature content for young users. Need the fast version? For the most secure experience, we recommend turning these features off. )For many users, widespread exposure is the attraction of TikTok. According to the TikTok policy, the user must be at least 13 years old to use the app's full features. They may use these features to build trust with your child, which could lead to physical danger. Social media is a double-edged sword, and you need to make sure they're ready. He was sent to live with Noah and his son Shem, and he remained with them to . Only friends can comment on videos, and other users can't duet (explained below) with your videos. This "Family Safety Mode" lets parents link to their teenager's TikTok account and control "Digital Wellbeing features," according to an article published by TikTok. TikTok has been the target of some controversy over its privacy policies. . Teens are often more impulsive and more likely to do things online that they wouldnt normally do, especially when it comes to peer approval. BuzzFeed News reported on the issue in June, noting that predators who lurk on the app often use "Duets" to send young creators explicit messages. You can also search for content using topics or hashtags. Before diving into TikTok, consider who you want accessing your videos and profile. This can be a great way to show an interest in what your child is doing but also will help you talk to them about some of the risks and the different privacy settings available. Being a kid these days is hard enough. Using any social network can be risky, but it's possible for kids to safely use the app with adult supervision (and a private account). Receive expert tips on using phones, computers, smart home gear and more. Sign them up for the curated version for tweens under 13. This is my place to share my journey. You can (and should!) Here are 11 settings that can help protect from unwanted followers, harmful comments and violent videos on TikTok. Even though the Younger Users version of TikTok filters out mature content, its still likely that inappropriate content will make its way through. TikTok introduced the Family Pairing mode in 2022, which lets parents link their account to their kid's account. It can provide hours of entertainment but also comes with a few safety risks and security issues. TikTok for Under 13 If you decide to let your child use TikTok before they turn 13, you need to know the risks. While full use of TikTok is technically limited to ages 13 and up, children can easily get around that by putting in a false birthdate. If you feel your child has posted something inappropriate or is not using TikTok safely, it's okay to remove their access to the app or, if necessary, switch out their smartphone for a simple flip phone. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Weve put together a comprehensive guide to help you determine the best course of action for your childs TikTok use.