Is TikTok Safe for Kids? What Parents Need To Know

If you have a young teen, sooner or later, you’ll have to decide whether or not to let them sign up for a TikTok account. At what age is it okay to let them use TikTok? Is TikTok safe for kids? Here’s everything every parent needs to know about underage TikTok use.

What Age Is TikTok For?

What age is TikTok for? The popular video-sharing platform has an age rating of 13+. This means you have to be at least 13 years old to create a TikTok account. The exceptions are Indonesia, Quebec, and South Korea, where the minimum age requirement is 14 years. 

Certain age limitations apply when using the app depending on the minor user’s country. These include limited access to certain product features, content levels sorted according to thematic comfort, and restrictive default privacy settings. 

For example, in the U.S., children under 13 can register for an account and have a “separate under-13 experience.” This experience includes additional safety settings and a stricter Privacy Policy. 

TikTok has various default restrictive settings for registered accounts that fall within the following age groups:

• 13 to 15 years old
• 16 to 17 years old
• 13 to 17 years old

Here are some examples:

• Content from creators who are under 16 is ineligible for the For You feed. 
• A user must be at least 16 years old to use direct messages. 
• Users between 13 and 17 years old are ineligible to go LIVE or send gifts to a creator during a LIVE. 
• Teens between 13 and 17 years old have their daily screen time set to one hour by default. 
• Teens between 13 and 15 years old have their push notifications turned off between 9:00 PM and 8:00 AM by default. 
• Teens between 16 and 17 years old have their push notifications turned off between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM by default. 

Is TikTok Appropriate for Kids?

Is TikTok appropriate for kids? How safe is TikTok for kids? TikTok creates age-appropriate experiences for minor users, but the user has to specify their age when they create an account. TikTok does verify the age of users when they sign up, however. The platform only requires age verification for underage appeals after it bans an account. 

Parents who allow their children to use TikTok must ensure that their children’s accounts reflect the correct birth year. This is the first step in safeguarding their TikTok experience, as it automatically activates the platform’s age-appropriate safety measures. 

Parents can also take further action to keep their kids safe by using parental controls via TikTok’s Family Pairing feature. 

Is TikTok Good for Kids?

Is TikTok good for kids? Health experts advise against letting kids use any type of social media, not just TikTok. Many psychologists, in particular, believe that social media app use among children may amplify mental health and behavioral issues typical in their formative years. 

During the app’s earlier years, there were incidents related to dangerous TikTok challenges involving underage users. Reports of children’s exposure to harmful and inappropriate content on social media platforms were also prevalent. 

Since then, TikTok has reformulated stricter safety and privacy policies to protect underage users from the inherent dangers of social media.  

Again, the parents are ultimately responsible for the safety of their children when using TikTok. Parents can customize their kids’ privacy settings to shield against harmful content and mature content. They can set screen time limits and utilize screen time management to limit TikTok use. TikTok offers a full suite of solutions and resources that promote youth safety on the platform.

Should Kids Have TikTok?

One of the most important questions all parents eventually ask themselves is, “Should kids have TikTok?” Parents must use their best judgment when deciding when to let their children have a social media presence and which social media is best. 

Among other social media platforms, TikTok offers the best opportunities for creative expression. There are tons of editing apps that offer tools similar to or better than TikTok’s. But remember that creative expression needs an audience, and the platform’s social functionality gives users a more complete experience. 

Lots of kids, for example, enjoy performing through song and dance. The app gives them all the tools to pursue these early passions and explore their creative potential. 

TikTok’s highly intuitive algorithm also makes the platform an excellent place to discover content relevant to user interests. Young users can connect with creators who can offer them inspiration and motivation and with peers who share their interests. 

Is TikTok Safe For Kids? Tips for Parents

Peer pressure is a tale as old as time, and all kids experience it. If all of your child’s peers are on TikTok, they may feel left out if they’re not allowed on the platform. While this is not the best reason to let your kid use TikTok, it’s a legitimate motivation for them. 

Is TikTok safe for my kid? Fortunately, there are many ways to make TikTok safe for your kid. 

Here are ten tips:

1. Make sure your child signs up with the correct age. As much as possible, wait until your kid is 13 before you allow them to create a TikTok account. Registering with their correct birth year ensures an age-appropriate TikTok experience. 
2. If you don’t have TikTok, you should also consider signing up so you can monitor your child’s TikTok via Family Pairing. Use all parental controls appropriate to your child’s age. 
3. Aside from the in-app safety features, enable your kid’s device’s parental controls as well. 
4. TikTok requires an email account to sign up. You can use your email account or create one for your child. If you do the latter, enable all safety features for their online account. A Google account, for example, offers the Family Link tool to allow parents to manage their child’s account. 
5. Manage your child’s TikTok use through the app’s screen time feature. 
6. Explore TikTok’s content preferences options, which include filtering video keywords and enabling restricted mode. 
7. Keep an eye on who’s following your child and who they’re following on TikTok. 
8. Monitor their searches and view history. 
9. Make them feel safe to express themselves creatively, but you should also talk to them about certain risky behaviors. 
10. Make your child feel safe to talk to you about anything. Help them if they encounter negative or harmful content online. 

Teach Your Child About Online Safety

More often than not, parenting is about finding the right balance between hovering and giving your child the freedom to explore and learn. But many parents now realize that raising kids in the age of social media can be very scary. 

Just like teaching your child to ride a bike, there will come a time when the training wheels must come off. And soon after, you’ll have to watch them fall and get bruised until they find their balance. 

This also applies when you’re teaching your child about online safety. The parental controls are their training wheels. Talk to them about how to stay safe and the dangers to watch out for — like you’re giving them directions on how to balance and maneuver.  

Parents also need to understand and accept that most children these days need to develop social media skills for socialization. Social media, after all, has become the most preferred form of social connection among younger generations. It’s less about fitting in and more about simply being connected. 

Is TikTok safe for kids? Parents can make TikTok safe for their kids. Although no solution is 100% foolproof, the platform offers industry-leading safety features to give you peace of mind. If you have a young creator hoping to build an audience for their content, explore the growth opportunities of a High Social plan!

Like TikTok’s algorithm, High Social’s advanced, proprietary AI technology helps connect creators with suitable audiences. Help your child grow their fanbase with genuinely interested and highly engaged niche viewers. Start growing your TikTok today!

TikTok 101