{"id":147193,"date":"2022-03-23T11:19:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T18:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=147193"},"modified":"2024-06-21T08:05:52","modified_gmt":"2024-06-21T15:05:52","slug":"a-parents-guide-to-tiktok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/a-parents-guide-to-tiktok\/","title":{"rendered":"A Parent\u2019s Guide to TikTok"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding someone who hasn\u2019t heard of TikTok in 2022 would be quite the achievement. As one of the most popular social media platforms of the moment, it is not only being used by our tweens, teens and even grownups to connect but also as a crucial way to tell important stories amidst a backdrop of natural disasters and even war.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As parents, we know we need to keep up with the latest social media platforms but let\u2019s be real \u2013 we don\u2019t always have enough time. So, I\u2019m going to do the hard work for you. Here\u2019s my overview of TikTok \u2013 what it is, the risks, and most importantly, how you can help your kids (or yourself) stay safe while using it. You\u2019re welcome!!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Actually Is Tik Tok?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Tik Tok is a social media platform that can be downloaded on any smartphone via an app. Once you\u2019ve signed up to the app and become a user, you can create and then share short videos of 15 seconds in length on any topic.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The app started life as Musical.ly, a super popular video streaming app that also allowed users to make funny 15-second videos, many of which focussed on <\/span>lip-syncing<\/span><\/a>. By mid-2017, the app had <\/span>over 200 million registered users<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 In 2018, the app was taken over by Chinese company ByteDance and all of its users (and their content) were moved to TikTok.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Popular is Tik Tok?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to Hootsuite, TikTok is the <\/span>6<\/span>th<\/span> most used social media platform in the world<\/span><\/a>. As of late September 2021, TikTok had over a billion monthly users and as of August last year, <\/span>it overtook Facebook to become the world\u2019s most downloaded app<\/span><\/a>. Facebook does, however, have more monthly users, reporting a massive <\/span>2.74 billion users as of August 2021<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Who Is Using It?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

It appears TikTok is used by females (57%) more than males (43%) however its user base is very diverse and cuts across all age categories \u2013 yes, even us parents! But brands hoping to reach younger female audiences are without a doubt using TikTok to showcase their wares. What is interesting is that although we all think that TikTok dominates the Gen Z market, research shows that it doesn\u2019t rank as the top choice for younger users \u2013 in fact only 4.3% of users name it as their favorite platform. Users between 16 and 24 nominate Instagram as their top choice!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Old Do You Need To Be To Use TikTok?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Unlike other social media platforms, there is no minimum age requirement when using TikTok. The company says that it adjusts a user\u2019s privacy settings based on the birthday entered when setting up the account. If a user is under the age of 13, they will automatically be directed into the TikTok for Younger Users program which has additional privacy and safety protections. Of course, anyone can lie about their age, but TikTok has said publicly that it has moderators trained to predict when a user is suspected of being underage.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Are The Risks of Tiktok?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As you would know, there are risks associated with using all social media platforms and TikTok is no exception. However, in my opinion the majority of these can be managed with a combination of critical thinking, parental controls<\/a>, and preparation \u2013 more about these later.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But let\u2019s go worst-case scenario for one moment. Here are the potential risks that your child could encounter:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n