TikTok
TikTok is a social network app from the creators of Musical.ly. As Musical.ly officially went offline in late 2018, TikTok (known as Douyin in China) has taken its place offering the user the ability to watch musical clips, create short clips up to 60 seconds and add special effects to them.
All the content that was hosted on Musical.ly is now on TikTok. So if your child had a Musical.ly account they will now be able to access this content on TikTok.
Should I have concerns? Although there are some safety features which can be set, the following have been raised as potential concerns:
Inappropriate language Parents have expressed concern around the inappropriate language of some of the video posted which may make this less suitable for younger children.
Some of the hashtags created by users may point to inappropriate content that may encourage some to self-harm. The platform’s community guidelines prohibit this type of content, so if found or reported it is blocked or taken down.
Contact from Strangers
Predators seeking to connect with children is another risk that parents should consider. Users can like or react to a video, follow an account or send messages to each other. There is the risk that strangers will be able to directly contact children on the app.
Access to content When you download the app, users can see all the content without creating an account although they are not able to post, like or share anything until they’ve set up an account on the app.
By default all accounts are public so anyone on the app can see what your child shares. However, only approved followers can send them messages.
Risk taking Children may be tempted to take risks to get more of a following or ‘likes’ on a video, so it’s important to talk about what they share and with whom they share it.
It is also worth noting that to delete an account, you have to request a code from the app using a phone number.
For more information, please visit: https://www.internetmatters.org/hub/esafety-news/tik-tok-app-safety-what-parents-need-to-know/
