TikTok, a widely popular social media platform, allows users to share short, user-generated videos, often featuring lip-synching to trending songs. With its vast range of content, including challenges and memes, TikTok has quickly become a favourite among teenagers. However, the platform's popularity among young users brings several risks that need to be addressed. Understanding these risks and knowing how to mitigate them is essential for ensuring a safer experience for your children.
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a social network that allows users to create and share short videos (up to 10 minutes), featuring music, effects, and various editing tools. It’s known for its viral challenges, trends, and a diverse range of content, from dance routines and lip-syncing to educational and comedic videos. This broad content scope makes TikTok both engaging and potentially risky for young users.
A recent survey shows nearly half of kids aged 10-15 spend at least two hours daily on TikTok, with some as young as seven encountering harmful content online.
The harms associated with TikTok
Exposure to inappropriate content
TikTok's content moderation, while substantial, can’t eliminate exposure to harmful material. Despite efforts to filter inappropriate content, some users may still encounter disturbing or explicit videos. A study in 2022 revealed that Aussie teenagers using TikTok were being shown suicide-related content within 2.6 minutes being on the app, and eating disorder content being shown within eight minutes.
Viral challenges, such as “ridgy popping” where teenagers in Sydney are putting themselves at serious risk by clinging to the side of moving trains, have led to dangerous behaviours and highlight the platform's struggles with controlling harmful trends. Just over a week ago, a teenage boy was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital with multiple injuries after doing this dangerous stunt on the train between St Peters and Redfern.
Potential of harassment and bullying
From Jan 2022 to July 2023, eSafety commissioner received 795 requests to remove alleged bullying of children from various social media platforms, with 309 from TikTok. This makes TikTok the platform that received most requests to remove child bullying content in Australia. Note that the reported statistics from eSafety represent only a fraction of incidents. Many cases of online abuse and bullying go unreported, meaning the true extent of the problem is likely much larger.
Despite TikTok's efforts to address the issue, including the removal of cyber-bullying content targeting children, the platform remains a hotspot for such harmful behaviour. The sheer volume of user-generated content and the dynamic nature of TikTok make it challenging to eliminate instances of online abuse.
Impact on young people’s attention span
TikTok's rapid and relentless stream of videos, likes, and comments creates a high-speed environment that can easily overwhelm users. This constant influx of content leads to cognitive overload. For young people, this can be particularly distracting, as the engaging but fast-paced nature of the platform diverts their attention away from other important activities, such as schoolwork. This highlights the need for careful management of their time on the app.
What parents and carers can do to reduce those risks
To address these risks and create a safer TikTok experience for young people, parents and carers can employ the following strategies.
Enable parental controls
TikTok offers features to help parents and carers manage kids’ and teenagers’ use of the app. Parents can set daily screen time limits and activate Restricted Mode to block mature content. These settings can be protected with a passcode to prevent unauthorised changes. To set these controls, go to "Digital Wellbeing" in the app settings and select "Screen Time Management" and "Restricted Mode."
Use family pairing
Family Pairing allows parents and carers to manage young people’s TikTok settings remotely. To use this feature, download TikTok on your own device, create an account, and then sync it with their account using the Family Pairing option. This allows you to control privacy settings, content filters, and screen time directly from your device.
Monitor usage
Regularly review young people’s TikTok activity to ensure they are using the platform safely. Have periodic discussions about their experiences and any issues they might be facing. Monitoring their interactions and providing guidance on safe online behaviour can help mitigate potential risks.
Most importantly, have open conversations with young people about online safety
Open communication about online safety is crucial. Create a trusting space where they feel comfortable sharing their experiences and concerns. Discuss with your child or a young person in your life the importance of privacy and the potential risks of sharing personal information. Make sure they understand how to recognise and report inappropriate content. Encourage them to think carefully about their online interactions and emphasise that even though TikTok might seem temporary, the content shared can have long-lasting consequences. By maintaining ongoing, supportive conversations, you can help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.
Remember that social media and technology can be incredibly empowering tools when used wisely. However, to harness their benefits, it's essential to use these tools mindfully. This means setting boundaries to prevent excessive screen time, being cautious about sharing personal information, and critically evaluating the content consumed. By balancing usage with awareness and intention, social media and technology can be powerful assets that enrich young people’s lives.
If you are concerned about a child or young person being bullied, please seek help. Speak to a trusted GP, school wellbeing staff, or a helpline such as:
Dolly’s Dream Support Line 0488 881 033
Parentline in your state or territory
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Headspace 1800 650 890
Lifeline 13 11 14
For more resources and tips to keep your kids safe online, download Beacon, the free cyber safety app, here.
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