Honest Parenting // How To Keep Kids Off TikTok

TikTok, or social media in general, is a scary world that we would prefer our kids didn’t enter, but this is, unfortunately, unavoidable.

Essentially, you can’t keep them off TikTok or any other social platforms, but what we can do is ensure we educate the next generation on the dangers of social media, keep conversations open, and be there when they need us.

Technology is the future, and keeping your kids off it will only push them to use it elsewhere, such as at school or with their friends, without proper knowledge and education. Social pressure also means that if you don’t let them eventually join in, they will miss out on a huge part of what makes up the next generation’s social lives, but by no means does it need to dominate it.

As per the rules in line with TikTok’s adherence to privacy laws, the platform is not accessible to children under the age of 13 but given that most children are getting phones by age 10-12, education about the platform needs to start early.

When the time (inevitably) comes for your teen to join TikTok there are some key things you can do to protect their privacy.

• Private account – ensure that the account set up for your child is private, which allows only those approved followers to view the videos/content

  
  

• Screen time – with the average person spending a minimum 1-2hrs on the platform per day it is important to set a screen time limit to manage this

  
  

• Restricted mode – Within the settings, you can enable ‘Restricted Mode’ which will filter out inappropriate content

  
  

• Family pairing – This feature allows you to link your account to your child’s, giving you access to remote control settings and check-in on the account.

Aside from these setup protection measures, significant importance is on the educational elements, which will allow them to navigate the digital world safely and give them a space to talk openly when needed. You can start the conversations early as most children are around social media and digital devices from a young age. Ensure the conversation is age-appropriate, clear, and not scaremongering. Teaching the basics of online safety, such as sharing personal information and images, along with the common issues such as many people not being who they say they are (stranger danger) are some of the most important topics to cover as a starting point.

Explaining what a ‘Digital Footprint’ is can be a good way to educate without fear but get across the real dangers of sharing content. Your digital footprint is about teaching them that anything posted online stays forever, even if deleted, which can have longer-term consequences.

In a nutshell, the goal is to create a healthy relationship with social media, not remove it altogether. Alternatively, buy an island* and live in a bubble but sadly I don’t think this is realistic for most of us.

 *Searches for available islands immediately