TikTok has billions of users - including kids. If your child is interested in using the short-form video app to either browse or share online themselves, it’s understandable to worry about whether they will be exposed to strangers in addition to inappropriate music and content. Luckily,TikTokoffers a bevy of parental controls and privacy settings so that you can apply a few restrictions to make the app more age-appropriate, or you can completely lock-down your child’s TikTok experience if that’s what you prefer to do.
Here are some of the main TikTok parental controls and privacy settings to know.
Does TikTok have an age limit?
Not really. TikTok automatically adjusts a user’s privacy settings based on the birthdate they enter when creating their account. But anyone can lie about their age. Although TikTok doesn’t do age verification checks when a user signs up, it does claim to have “moderators” who are trained to predict and report when a user is suspected of being underage.
TikTok account restrictions by age:
What is Family Pairing on TikTok?
Family pairing allows parents to link their account with their child’s to control their settings remotely. For example, parents can turn on Restricted mode and screen time limits and disable direct messages right from their own phone. And children can’t change these settings without parental approval. If you want maximum control, Family Pairing is for you.
How to turn on Family Pairing:
If you trust your child more,you can simply adjust the privacy settings on their account on their own device. We list some of those privacy settings below.
How to enable Restricted mode
There is a Restricted mode for accounts that can filter out mature content on TikTok. It apparently uses an “automated detection system” in addition to human moderators who are trained to identify certain inappropriate themes. But Restricted mode only applies to videos, children still access explicit music when making their own videos.
To turn Restricted mode on:
Tip:Use Family Pairing if you want to prevent your child from disabling Restricted mode without your approval.
How to set screen time limits on TikTok
TikTok has its own screen time limits. You can choose to limit the daily allotment between 40 minutes and two hours, and then a pop-up will prompt the users to spend time off the app. To dismiss the message and continue using TikTok, users will have to enter a passcode.
To turn on screen time limits:
Tip:Use Family Pairing if you want to prevent your child from disabling screen time limits without your approval.
How to make a TikTok account private
Videos on private accounts can only be seen by the creator and by those who the creator has approved as a follower. Users under 16 automatically have private accounts, but any account can be set to private.
To enable a private account:
How to limit who comments on TikTok videos
You can restrict comments made on videos. Only users over 13 can send and receive comments.
To adjust comment settings on videos:
How to filter comments on TikTok videos
you may filter out specific comments on videos by spam and offensive comments or by keywords. Only users over 13 can send and receive comments.
To filter comments:
How to turn off downloads on TikTok videos
This privacy setting prevents other users from saving your videos to their phones.
To control whether videos are downloadable:
How to turn off duets on TikTok videos
You can turn off duets on videos. A duet happens when a user makes a TikTok with another TikTok playing on half the screen. Only users over 16 can duet.
To control who can duet videos:
How to turn off stitches on TikTok videos
You can turn off stitches on videos. Stitching is a feature where a TikTok plays first and then a user adds their own content. Only users over 16 can stitch.
To control who can stitch TikTok videos:
How to turn off direct messages on TikTok
You can adjust a TikTok account’s messaging settings so that it can receive direct messages from anyone, no one, or friends. The direct messaging feature allows users to send TikToks and text - but not images or video. Only users over 16 can send direct messages.
To restrict direct messages:
How to report users and comments
If you ever experience another user behaving inapporiately or think their comments are inappropriate, you can report them and their comments.
