TikTok - Real Short Videos
Common Sense says
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Free
- Social Networking
Parents say
Kids say
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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 music videos. It used to be called musical.ly. Users can create and upload videos, remix others' work, or browse content created by other users and by famous recording artists. However, as of 2019, in response to an FTC settlement, there's a separate section of the app for users under 13. That experience only lets users view curated videos: They can't comment, search, or post their own videos, and their data isn't collected. Because access to that area of the app only requires the user to enter a birthdate, the app is still recommended for older teens. Users often livestream via LiveMe - Live Video Chat, directly interacting with online audiences through chat. Because the app employs popular music, expect swearing and sexual content in the songs. Though the videos viewed during the review process only contained some tight and revealing clothing, some families have encountered sexually suggestive or even explicit material. The Digital Well-Being settings allow parents to set two-hour screen time limits with the app (locked with a password), and a new Restricted Mode (also password-protected) can help filter out inappropriate content. As of 2020, there's a Family Safety Mode feature that lets parents link their own accounts to their kids to control time limits and Restricted Mode, and it lets parents disable direct messages as well. Note that kids can get around these controls by setting up a new account. Settings allow users to share their videos with friends or the general public, but setting accounts to Private does nothing to eliminate previously obtained followers. The new version of the app focuses on themed challenges, encouraging kids to make videos of themselves doing things like editing two videos together or working out to '80s music. Parents should note that the app has its own celebrities, and kids may use it in hopes of becoming famous. Finally, users cannot delete accounts themselves and 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 kids') 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.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
**Warning....this app contains Adult Video Content!**
Caution! Very fun but not for Tweens!
I love it!
Review #23 - What? Your 16+ rating has gotta be a joke. My 12 yo sister uses it fine.
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. An in-app store lets users purchase in-app currency that can be used to buy digital "gift" icons for their favorite livestreamers. If a user is under 13, they can enter their birthdate 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 musical social network is great, but the features are sometimes buggy, and teens should adjust the privacy settings before using. 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 a creative social space. That being said, because it's all about popular music, lyrics often contain swearing and sexual references, and many parents have reported finding explicit sexual content and content referencing self-harm. The new 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. Privacy and Safety settings are still imperfect; users still can't delete accounts themselves, and if accounts aren't made Private from the start, kids could retain unwanted followers. Additionally, while the section of the app for users under 13 restricts the experience to filter out mature content and comments -- and even prevents them from posting videos themselves -- it only requires entering a birthdate, which is easy to circumvent. 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 (and don't mind the iffy interface that makes it hard to see your own videos at times), 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. 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 Tik Tok - including musical.ly? 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.
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Price: Free
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: January 14, 2016
- Category: Social Networking
- Topics: Music and Sing-Along
- Size: 187.70 MB
- Publisher: BYTEMOD PTE.Ltd
- Version: 8.0.1
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 9.0 or later; Android 4.1 and up
- Last updated: April 21, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love music
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.