TikTok

Sing, lip-synch, and share videos; watch for iffy content.
Parents say
Based on 249 reviews
Kids say
Based on 679 reviews
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TikTok
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that TikTok is a social network for sharing user-generated videos, most of which feature music and sound effects. Users can also remix others' work and browse content created by other users, including famous recording artists. Since the app features a lot of music, you can expect swearing and sexual content in some songs. Though videos viewed during the review process contained only some tight/revealing clothing, depending on which accounts users follow and what content they like, it's possible to encounter sexually suggestive and explicit material. In-app games such as Sway Stories are playable within the TikTok app and may have mature themes. In 2019, in response to an FTC settlement, the app launched TikTok for Younger Users for users under 13, allowing them to view curated videos but not comment, search, or post their own videos (and their data isn't collected). But because full access to TikTok only requires users to enter a birth date, the app is still recommended for older teens. As of 2020, the app features a Family Safety mode that lets parents link their own account to their kids' and set time limits, place kids' accounts on Restricted mode, and disable direct messages; Digital Well-Being settings offer similar controls. Parents can also control who can leave comments, turn off search, and bar users from seeing which videos their children have liked. If a kid unpairs the account, the parent gets an alert. (Note that kids can get around these controls by setting up a new account.) Settings let users share their videos with either friends or the general public, but setting accounts to Private does nothing to eliminate previously obtained followers. For kids 13-15, the privacy default setting is private, so only friends can comment, and other users can't use the Duet or Stitch features with their videos. They'll also encounter a pop-up message when they publish their first video confirming who can see their content. Only users 16 and older can livestream and use direct messaging, though their DM setting will be "No One" by default. Creators can control which comments go live on their videos, and commenters will see a pop-up box to rethink a comment that may be unkind, determined by keywords. Users 18 and older can buy, send, and receive virtual gifts. Finally, to delete an account, users must request a delete code from the developers after submitting their phone number. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your child's) information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change. Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), you have the right to protect your personal information. Make a Do Not Sell request to TikTok.
Community Reviews
its not that bad.
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good app but
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What’s It About?
TIKTOK is a lively social network built around creating, sharing, and searching for user-created music videos. Users can upload videos of themselves singing, lip-synching, dancing, or performing some kind of stunt. Ongoing challenges spur users to create content related to a particular theme, and users can integrate their own videos with another user's with the Duet feature. Simple stickers, filters, and augmented reality (AR) animations can be added to videos, and users can livestream themselves and interact directly with online audiences via chat. Users can set their videos to private or share them publicly. If shared publicly, videos can be viewed, commented upon, or remixed by other users. Creators can determine exactly which comments are published, if they choose. An in-app store lets users purchase in-app currency that can be used to buy digital "gift" icons for their favorite livestreamers. If users are under 13, they can enter their birth date to access a separate area that only allows them to watch curated videos and not post, comment, or search.
Is It Any Good?
The idea behind this social media network is great, but with so many features, teens should adjust the privacy settings before using just in case. With cool features for searching for content, sharing your own videos, and remixing work from other users, there's terrific potential for TikTok to be an inclusive, creative social space. That being said, because the app's content heavily features popular music, lyrics often contain swearing and sexual references, and many parents have reported finding explicit sexual content and content referencing self-harm. The password-protected Digital Well-Being setting limits kids to two hours with the app per day, and Restricted mode helps (but doesn't totally prevent) kids from finding inappropriate content. The pairing feature gives parents even more control, which is rare when it comes to social media apps. But, Privacy and Safety settings are still imperfect because users can't delete accounts themselves, and if accounts aren't made Private from the start, kids could retain unwanted followers. Additionally, while the TikTok for Younger Users section of the app for users under 13 filters out mature content and comments -- and even prevents them from posting videos themselves -- it only requires entering a birth date, making it easy to get around these controls. These restrictions may also take most of the fun out of the app for some kids. Still, for kids 16 and up who can better handle the mature content, it can be a fun diversion, provided fame doesn't become an obsession.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about family rules for privacy and social networks like TikTok. Talk about when it's OK to share information and what kind of information should be kept private. What are your rules around your kid using TikTok? Can your kid share videos publicly or only with friends?
Before downloading, discuss your family's rules around profanity and sexual references in music. What are your teens allowed to listen to? What kinds of videos can they post?
Talk about songs that might be fun to lip-synch to and how you can get creative with that 15-second time limit for videos. Think about what kinds of movements or dance might work well within that time frame.
If your kids are interested in creating their own videos, it's worth talking about the fact that anything posted to the internet never really goes away. Content that was funny or a joke at one time sometimes can come back to haunt you.
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: January 14, 2016
- Category: Social Networking
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- Publisher: BYTEMOD PTE.Ltd
- Version: 8.0.1
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 9.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated: October 8, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love music
Themes & Topics
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