TikTok, a well-known social media application, has emerged as a go-to social media platform among children and teens as it is easy to navigate and offers a variety of content, such as dance, comedy, and lip-syncing videos. Additionally, TikTok customizes the content for users, keeping them interested and returning for more.
TikTok’s popularity has exploded since its North American launch making it one of the top social media platforms for youths, according to a new Pew Research Center survey of American teenagers aged 13 to 17.
TikTok’s Safety Tips
However, with TikTok’s growing popularity, the risks of using it are continually increasing. The potential dangers of using the app include cyberbullying, scams, exposure to inappropriate content, negative influence, etc., and most young kids are victims of it.
So how can you let your kids use Tiktok safely? In this article, you’ll learn the possible ways to create a safe environment for your kids using TikTok. Follow along!
Set Up Parental Controls
Keeping track of your kids’ activity on TikTok for their safety by setting up TikTok parental controls is a great way to ensure your kid’s TikTok safety. TikTok has its own family pairing feature that allows parents to customize their kids’ TikTok content and settings for a safer TikTok experience.
With the family pairing feature on TikTok, your account gets linked to your teen’s TikTok account so that you can set your teen’s screen time limits, enable restricted mode, limit people who can send them messages, choose whether they have a private or public account, and overall manage your teen’s privacy and safety settings for keeping your teens safe while on the app.
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To turn on the Family Pairing feature, here’s what you’ll have to do:
- Log in to your TikTok.
- Tap on the person icon at the bottom right corner.
- On your screen, tap on the hamburger icon at the top right corner.
- Go to Settings and privacy.
- Tap on Family Pairing.
- Select Continue on the next page.
- Choose Parent and tap on Next.
- You’ll now see a QR code. Then, on your teen’s phone, log in to their TikTok.
- Go to Settings and privacy > Family Pairing > Teen.
- Finally, scan the Qr code to link your and your teen’s TikTok account.
Thus, in this way, you can customize your kid’s TikTok settings and assure yourself that your teens are using the app safely.
Educate Your Kids on Online Safety
Kids are increasingly using the internet for anything from entertainment to education. However, children accessing the internet without the proper supervision of adults may lead to a number of issues, including cyberbullying, online predators, and revealing personal information.
Thus, it’s high time that parents frequently instruct their children on the topic of the internet and its pros and cons. Your responsibility as a parent is to teach and mentor your kids about online safety.
- Inform the risks associated with social media: Talk to your kids about the risks of sharing private information online, cyberbullying, hackers, and scammers. Ensure that your kids understand the value of privacy and the negative effects of over-sharing.
- Communicate openly: Encourage your child to discuss his/her worries and internet experiences with you. You can spot problems before they worsen and take appropriate action by openly communicating.
- Teach to maintain balance: You must teach your children the value of striking a balance between using social media sites like TikTok and other activities like physical activity, socializing, and academic endeavors.
- Set a good example: It’s essential to set a good example for your kids regarding online safety. Children can learn how to use the internet ethically and effectively by watching how you behave online.
Last but not least, remind your children that it’s always better to be safe than sorry while using the internet and to report any questionable activity or conduct they come across on the app.
Monitor Your Child’s Activity
It is crucial to provide guardians guide to teens before they use any social media platforms. Keeping an eye on their TikTok activity (without violating their privacy) ensures they are safe on the app. The following actions can be taken to monitor your child’s activity on TikTok.
- Create a private account: Having public accounts can put your kids in a possible risk of being victims of online predators. Help your kid create a private account so that only those they approve can view the content they post. You will have more control over who they interact with online as a result of limiting the number of people who can see their posts.
- Verify their list of followers and followers: Monitor your kid’s followers and followings regularly and block or report any shady or unknown accounts if you don’t feel right about them. Better if you teach your kids to block users who negatively influence them in any way.
- Examine their online activity: Keep an eye on the videos your kid posts and the comments they receive on them. This way, you can either delete offensive remarks or block the person if you find them inappropriate.
- Use monitoring softwares: Some monitoring softwares let you keep tabs on your kids’ phone, such as messages, videos, and contacts on TikTok and other social media apps. They track your kids’ activity on their phones easily.
Summing up, it’s crucial to understand that keeping an eye on your child’s TikTok activity does not mean violating their privacy. It’s about ensuring their safety and educating them about potential threats while allowing them to use the app freely.
Conclusion
To sum up, allowing your children to utilize TikTok can be a fantastic way to interact with others and express themselves artistically. But it’s crucial to understand that with the several good sides of TikTok, there are also cons.
There are potential risks like cyberbullying, scams, and exposure to inappropriate content, so it’s crucial to ensure they’re using the platform safely.
This can be achieved by establishing precise standards and rules, keeping an eye on their online behavior, and having open discussions about social media’s dangers. You can also restrict their access to inappropriate content using parental controls and privacy settings.
By following these instructions, you can rest assured that your children are using TikTok responsibly and safely.