A TikTok Primer for Parents

Is this thing on?

We’re diving into TikTok this week. Thank you to everyone who voted in the poll!

Overview

TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create, share and discover short-form (typically 15 to 60 seconds) videos. It launched in September 2016. As of 2022, TikTok has over 3 billion downloads, and over 1 billion monthly active users. You can watch content, create content or message other people. Its really popular with kids but many parents I know find it confusing. If you’re one of the confused, don’t worry! I got you!

How To Use TikTok

1. Get started: You open the the app to the "For You" page, a curated feed of videos. The more you watch the more personalized the feed will get. The algorithm learns your interests from your activity among other factors. Its worth noting here that this highly degree of personalization means your TikTok will not look like anyone else’s.

2. Explore content: You can watch videos on TikTok right away without creating an account. But if you want to like a video, comment on it, customize your feed, create a video, follow your kid or link to them in family pairing you’ll need to create an account.

3. Create an account: From profile (at the bottom of the page on the right) choose email, phone number, or a social media account to create your account.

4. Create content: From the plus sign (at the bottom of the screen in the center) you can either record a new video or upload an existing one. You can use the editing tools and effects to apply filters, music, and text to your videos.

5. Share content: You can share your video with your followers or on the "For You" page. Other users can interact with the video by liking, commenting, or sharing it. Note that you can use controls in settings to turn off comments if you like.

6. Interact with others: You can like, comment, share, and follow other users' accounts. To find friends/followers, tap the Friends icon (at the bottom of the screen on the left). From there you can troll through your address book, look through users TikTok thinks you know or invite others directly.

Other Features Parents Should Know About

1. Draft Mode: ALOT of kids use draft mode to create video with friends. Draft mode allows you to save a partially finished video and come back to it later to complete it or send it to a friend through the messaging feature. Friends can then open the draft video, record their own portion, and save it as a draft again. The final version can be posted to TikTok— or not depending upon whether the child has a private or public account.

2. Parental Controls and Settings - TikTok automatically defaults to TikTok for Kids for users under 13 and a private account for anyone under 15.

   1. Kids under 13 can't post videos or comment, and content is curated for a younger audience

   2. For kids age 13 to 15, only friends can comment on videos and other users can't duet with their videos.

My $0.02

TikTok is a mixed bag as far as social media apps goes. On the positive side:

• It contains a TON of great information, helpful tips and ideas. FUN FACT: Homeopathic TikTok has taught my husband and I how to made our own cough medicine!

• Its great for creativity and connectedness. Many kids use it to collaborate, be creative and stay in touch.

• Its got more parental control features than Snapchat, Instagram and YouTube.

But, there are some real negatives to consider too:

• Its pretty addictive. TikTok's algorithm is REALLY good at personalization which keeps users engaged. Many adults find it hard to self regulate so you can imagine its even harder for kids.

• Like all social media apps, it may expose your kid to misinformation or inappropriate content which can contribute to negative feelings about themselves or their circumstances.

• There are real unknowns around data/privacy and propaganda risks. Its pretty hard to ignore the news on TikTok these days. Whether your data is safe from the Chinese government or whether TikTok could be a vehicle for propaganda are national topics of discussion.

What Parents Can Do

• Decide if you’ll allow your kid to use TikTok. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

• If you do allow TikTok for your kid, get on there already!

• Set up the O/S controls on your kid’s device, set up TikTok’s family pairing and set up the TikTok specific controls.

• Talk with your kids about TikTok. In addition to and probably before you share your specific concerns, ask them to share, describe or show you what they’re watching or creating. You can share, describe or show what you’re watching or what you have found interesting, too!

Additional Resources

• A video tutorial on the basics here

• A written guide for parents from Sensical here

• My previous articles on setting up parental controls: time limits, content limits and communication limits.

• A video on setting parental controls from Bark here.

  NOTE: I do NOT agree with Bark that you never have to use your TikTok account once you set up controls and also the last few minutes of the video are a sales pitch for Bark’s services. I’ll address 3rd party services like Bark in another post.

Ok that’s it from me. Next week— Snapchat!

Love,

Sarah