TikTok

Reviewed By: Ryan

While TikTok has inappropriate content on it, not all users are posting/viewing inappropriate content. However, stumbling upon it will happen. Setting expectations and discussing behaviors for using the app is very important as a parent. TikTok itself isn’t dangerous, but a youth posting risky content could turn into a dangerous situation.

When discussing TikTok with youth, I’m talking to all age ranges. I’ve had discussions with 2nd graders and 12th graders about using TikTok. My main concerns are for younger youth using TikTok and what they will be exposed to. I have a TikTok account and have been scrolling through posts fairly consistently to develop this review. There is a lot of mature content on TikTok.

Mental health content is not as searchable as it is on other platforms, such as Instagram or Snapchat. Using mental health hashtags that are current does not take you to users posting about mental health, but that’s not to say that there aren’t mental-health-sharing accounts.  TikTok’s platform design is about sharing fun, surprising, shocking, funny, and snarky videos. I haven’t found dark themed accounts as of this writing.

Drug, alcohol, and vaping content is available by search. A quick search of #vape will get you to posts and accounts where you can view vaping. #Vape currently has 242.6 million posts. #Vapetricks (122.6 million posts) will take you to some very creative vaping videos. #weed will not get you to the drug related content, however #w33d (112K posts) will show you videos related to marijuana. #420 has 61.1 million posts, and #alcohol currently has 24.6 million videos.

There is a lot of sexual content on TikTok. A quick search of #nude will, as of this writing, get you “no results.”  However, a search of #kinkyaf (1.8 million posts) will take you directly to mature theme content. #kinkyteens currently has 21K posts.  A quick random scroll through the most popular videos included: burning calories during sex, a girl asking about anal sex, a “How I became a lesbian” post, a video about marijuana, a girl talking about her Paypal account she has to “make a business deal” to her men followers, what woman’s thighs should be like, a woman talking about threesomes with her boyfriend, and a woman talking about watching too much Pornhub.

The current age restriction for TikTok is 12. I’m not sure why this is the recommended age, but I very much disagree with this number.

I would not recommend children less than 17 use TikTok.

Safety Tips

My #1 recommendation: If you are going to let your child have a TikTok account, you should have an account as well so that you can effectively educate them on how to use it responsibly. Part of teaching them is knowing what content is on the app.

Here are some other safety tips: 

• Do not use full names as usernames.
• Set the account to private.
• Set your privacy settings and who can see/download content.
• Do not post personal information such as drivers’ licenses, school IDs, state IDs, phone numbers, birth certificates, school schedules, and/or other identifying information.
• Turn off location services. 
• Use the reporting system when they see inappropriate content. 
• Talk to a parent if they see a concerning post from a friend (mental health, bullying, inappropriate posts, etc).
• Be aware that videos can be easily saved from TikTok. 
• Report bullying both through TikTok’s reporting function and to a parent.
• Save videos/screenshots of bullying behaviors.
• Block bullies.
• Stick with the age restrictions
• Even though an account is private, privacy isn’t guaranteed. Once a post is shared it is totally out of the user’s hands.
• A digital reputation begins the moment an account is opened. What they post now could affect them later in life.
• Where kids are online, predators are online. Predators especially would be attracted to apps that young people use and apps that parents are not well-versed with. TikTok has many young users posting borderline inappropriate content. There is also direct private messaging on TikTok. This could make this app very desirable for a predator. Be aware of who your children are talking to online.

Reviewed by: Giovanna 

People my age love TikTok! I spend the majority of my time on my phone looking at TikTok. Making videos with my friends is one of my favorite pastimes. Some of the common things I come across are dance videos, advertisements, and a fair amount of crude humor. With that being said, I am 18 years old and when I see an inappropriate video, I have enough sense to simply scroll past it. However, a curious child may not do the same. They can look at a joke and not understand it which will cause them to research the meaning, which leads to dangerous overexposure. That’s why I believe no one should get TikTok until they’re 14.

Parental controls are extremely limited on TikTok. There is a “For You” page where any kind of video can show up and a following section. Even if your child does not have the app, they still have the ability to scroll through the For You page on the TikTok website.  My recommendation for parents is to limit the amount of time you allow your child to spend on TikTok because it can be addictive and lead to less productivity.

My advice for any child who is eager to join TikTok is that when you are my age, you will be so thankful that you received the app at the appropriate time.

Reviewed by: Kaitlin 

TikTok is an app that should only be used by teens. There is content on the app that is not appropriate for teens under 16 years old. Most of that content is coming from adults that use the app. Adults make sexual references, use vulgar language, and create videos that are not appropriate for young kids. All in all, it’s not an inappropriate app. It’s just certain people using it that make it inappropriate.

About Giovanna Niccolai

Giovanna is a Montour High School graduate. She was a varsity cheerleader and enjoyed participating in clubs such as Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America, and Cure Finders. She’s attending college majoring in Information Science with a focus in Data Analytics or Computer Security.

About Kaitlin

Kaitlin graduated from Bellwood-Antis High School. She has been a dancer since the age of 3 and has been on her dance school’s competition team since she was 11. She was a member of Aevidum club and is the Vice President of Renaissance club. She participated in many school events like mini-THON and leadership field trips. She attends college to get her associates degree in Physical Therapy Assistant and eventually go on to get her Doctorate of Physical Therapy.