By Frannie Ucciferri
With so many social networks to keep track of, it’s not surprising if your kid’s obsession with the TikTok app leaves you scratching your head. So what is it exactly? TikTok is a free social media app that lets you watch, create, and share videos — often to a soundtrack of the top hits in music — right from your phone. It was originally available as musical in the U.S. but was rebranded when the two apps merged in August 2018. With more than 100 million users, Tik Tok is incredibly popular, owing in part to its slick mash-up of features from other kid favorites. As with the lip-synching app Dubsmash, users can watch and record videos of themselves lip-synching to popular music and sound bites. As they did on the now-defunct Vine, kids can create short, shareable videos ranging from funny to serious. And just like YouTube, Tik Tok is an interactive world of videos that lets you connect with friends and admirers through likes, comments, and even duets. TikTok even spawns its own celebrities. Back before TikTok acquired musical.ly, overnight sensations like Baby Ariel and Jacob Sartorius gained internet fame on the app, especially with kids and teens. Since then, even more stars have joined the list. But with so much information out there, it can be a challenge for parents to know if it’s really safe. While TikTok videos are mostly harmless, creative fun, there are real concerns about kids using the app. As with any social network, you have to use privacy settings to limit how much information you and your kids are sharing. Kids can post stuff without reviewing or editing it first. There have even been reports of online predators using the app to target younger users. And in 2019, TikTok paid millions to settle with federal regulators who charged it violated children’s privacy law.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a social network for sharing user-generated videos, mostly of people lip-synching to popular songs. It was originally called musical.ly (pronounced MU-zik-lee). Users can create and upload their own videos where they lip-synch, sing, dance, or just talk. You can also browse and interact with other users’ content, which covers a wide range of topics, songs, and styles. These videos can be grouped by hashtags, which often correspond to challenges or memes.
How safe is TikTok?
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). When you sign up for TikTok, your account is public by default, meaning anyone can see your videos, send you direct messages, and use your location information. Parents should make sure to turn on all privacy settings for accounts kids are using, so only people you know can interact with your videos or message you on the app. That means either opting for a private account or changing the settings for comments, duets, reactions, and messages to “Friends” instead of “Everyone.” You can also turn those features off completely.
How does TikTok work?
Tik Tok users sign up with a phone number, an email address, Facebook, or Instagram. Once logged in, you can search popular creators, categories (comedy, animals, sports), and hashtags to find videos. Or you can use your phone contacts or social media followers to find friends already on the app. Many kids on Tik Tok like to create videos, but plenty of people don’t post themselves — they just use the app to find and follow content creators.
Is TikTok appropriate for kids?
Because of TikTok’s emphasis on popular music, many videos include swearing and sexual lyrics, so it may not be age-appropriate for kids to use on their own. It’s also easy to find people wearing revealing clothing and dancing suggestively, although TikTok won’t let you search for objectionable content such as “sex” or “porn.” If you supervise your kids and stick to songs you already know from the radio, TikTok can be a kid-friendly experience. In 2019, after settling with the Federal Trade Commission for child privacy violations due to all the children under 13 on the site, the developers created a separate section of the app for kids that only allows them to access curated, clean videos: They can’t comment, search, or post their own videos. However, bypassing that section only requires entering a false birthdate. 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. It’s also possible to spend real money by adding virtual coins to your Wallet.
How can I use TikTok with my kids?
You can provide a buffer between kids and iffy content by watching with your kids and making videos together. Offer to hold the camera or turn it around to do a selfie duet. You can post it or save it as “private” so only you can see. The app also lets you share videos by email, text, or other social media where you can better control who sees it, so kids can perform for friends and relatives instead of a wider network of people.
Is there any way to limit or restrict my kid’s activity on TikTok?
In addition to blocked search terms, TikTok also offers Digital Wellbeing features to help limit time spent on the app and limit the appearance of videos that may be inappropriate. To turn these features on, tap the three dots at the top right of your user profile. Then select “Digital Wellbeing” next to the icon of an umbrella. The features are automatically protected by a four-digit pass code so kids can’t turn them off on their own. From there, parents can opt to turn on Screen Time Management, which limits users to two hours on the app per day, and Restricted Mode, which blocks some content. Keep in mind, Restricted Mode isn’t foolproof, and even with the filter on, kids using the app on their own might come across age-inappropriate videos.
How can I monitor my kid’s activity on TikTok?
Other than Restricted Mode, there’s no way to filter out content on TikTok, so parents are encouraged to share an account with kids under the age of 13. This will let you keep an eye on what your kid is viewing and posting. Parents of older kids who are more resistant to monitoring can ask about their favorite video creators and get to know their videos (with or without your kid). Also, take the time to regularly look at the most popular songs, videos, memes, and challenges.
Saturday, April 18, 2026
