How to activate TikTok parental control and why you should do it to take care of your children? step by step guide

Today, TikTok is classified as one of the most influential social networks globally. Since, it managed to obtain a greater number of downloads in a short time, unlike other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat Y Youtube. This, mainly, due to its innovative concept based on short videos that bet on fun and entertainment.

Thus, this social media app captured the attention of various audiences, especially the youngest. Taking into account that, in principle, TikTok designed for teens and these were the main objective of the social network. Therefore, both children and adolescents are attracted to make use of this platformabove other alternatives.

However, due to the numerous criticisms it has had TikTok based on the security Yet the privacy, it is considered essential to take care of your children in this Chinese social network through parental control that it offers. In addition, it is also relevant to know what is the recommended age to admit its access Y what are the main dangers revealed by the service. Which we will explain below.

What is the recommended age to allow children to use TikTok and other social networks?

Although it is true, the well-known mobile application created by bytedance was born with the aim that all users could record and post short music clips; this being a format that gave the social network real success in a short time. Thanks to that, TikTok manages to sweep the so-called “Generation Z” which basically are tweens, teens and young adults. Since, they correspond to those born between 1995 and 2010 (people between 10 and 25 years old).

In this sense, the secret of the success of this platform is its novelty in the market of social networks, as well as its versatility of use. In addition to this, it is fun and attractive, so it can be considered a game for children and teenagers. Given that the social network provides the necessary tools to apply effects, filters, music and many more elements that help to acquire an attractive result.

However, to allow children to use TikTok, parents and/or guardians they must take into account the age admitted by the same platform of Chinese origin. Thus, we emphasize that the system handles a minimum registration age that points to the 13 years and in that case, if the user is under 18 years of age, the consent of an adult be your parent or guardian. However, many experts have stated that the ideal minimum age to accept that the youngest use TikTok, It is from 15 years old and up.

Now, it is worth noting that it is not recommended that children under 13 sign up for TikTok and use the platform freely. Reason why, there is a section in the social network that is suitable for children under 13 years and has more privacy and security features, by default. Even these users they will not be able to upload their own videos, search or comment on content. But, because of its vulnerability, it is not available in the United States.

What are the main risks for your child on TikTok and social networks?

According to a study published by The Wall Street Journalevery teenager spends an average of 45 minutes per day (or more) browsing through TikTok And because of this, most reps wonder if it’s really healthy or not.

Therefore, in order to assess it correctly, it is appropriate to know the greatest risks that exist in this fashionable social network for the smallest of the house. This, in view of the fact that some cybersecurity companies worldwide They have discovered serious flaws in the security of TikTok. Which, mainly, granted access to the personal data of the different accounts and left the privacy of said users manifest.

Reason for which, it is valuable to know the main dangers that can harm your child within the mentioned platform:

Data Confidentiality

As we mentioned before, TikTok has been pointed out by violate users’ privacy by granting access to the personal data of its users. Therefore, one of the greatest risks both for adolescents and for any user, lies in the confidentiality of your personal information.

Basically, it is a problem that was evidenced when Byte Dance, the company that developed TikTok, was fined $5.2 million by the United States government for “save and collect sensitive information and personal information from people under 13 years of age”. This being one of the most important causes for parents to give consent to minors to register for the service today.

Exposure and contact with sexual predators

The risk of exposure against possible predatory eyes, is another of the most latent dangers on TikTok for tweens and teens. Since, being a platform that hosts such a young audience, it has been considered the main way for malicious adults can stalk them as their potential victims. Taking into account that, through the types of videos that are shared in this app, users show and expose their personal life (where they live, what they do, what their family is like, etc.).

Which they can easily use against you to commit some abuse. Whereas, this feature makes the social network the preferred one for robbers. Other than that, the platform helps increase the chances of contact between adults and minorsthanks to the fact that it supports the sending and receiving of direct messages between the different tiktokers.

Dangerous challenges, challenges or challenges

Another of the worst risks that exhibits TikTok for its younger audience, is based on the challenges present in the social network they manage to gain a huge virality soon. Well, although there are numerous challenges that only involve performing dances, making gestures or pranks on other people, they have also come to light some challenges that can be considered deadly.

In this sense, there are many adolescents who, to gain recognition or avoid showing weakness before others to feel approval, choose to carry out these challenges, without analyzing the danger who run.

Therefore, they are considered the main victims of the challenges that generate so much danger, such as:

• Skull cracker: It consists of a challenge in which three people jump at the same time and, in a premeditated way, the two who are at the ends push the feet of the person who is in the center to knock him back and hit the part of back of the head. so they can cause from fractures and cervical sprains, to seizures or instant death.
• In My Feelings Challenge: It is based on a challenge in which the participants have to record a video getting out of a moving car to perform some choreography, while the car keeps moving. which brutally has caused serious accidents between pedestrians and motorists.
• benadryl challenge: This consists of taking a large number of Benadryl pills that correspond to a drug with diphenhydramine (used to cure colds and allergies). Which, when taking a large dose, people get to have hallucinations and at that moment they must record their reaction to show it to the other tiktokers. But, the truth is that it is very dangerous, according to toxicologists and professionalsdue to the side effects it generates (constipation, blurred vision, inability to urinate, coma, seizures and even death).
• outlet challenge: The challenge is based on plugging in a charger and throwing a coin into the space between the wall and the plug, so that the electricity passes through the coin and causes sparks. Nevertheless, could cause a short circuit that would end in the loss of light throughout the home and even in a fire.
• knockout challenge: It is another of the most dangerous challenges of TikTok that has gone viral in many parts of the world. Basically, it is about causing the other person to faint, placing them against the wall to put pressure on their chest and thus record their fainting. However, due to the lack of oxygen, this creates a ventricular obstruction in the person and thus, it can generate a cerebral infarction.
• super glue lips challenge: Refers to a challenge in which tiktokers apply Super Glue to the nasolabial fold and glue the upper lip together for an effect similar to cosmetic surgery. However, while visually appealing, glue leads to noticeable burns and wounds.

pathological gambling

Although it is true, currently TikTok It has its own exchange currency which is known as “Tik Tok Rewards Points” and that it has been created with the aim of sustaining itself financially and, at the same time, encouraging users to reward the work and effort of some tiktokers. But, although it has been beneficial in certain respects, actually it is also estimated as a risk for minors.

The reason for this is that these users have the possibility of redeem points earned for discount coupons in companies that sponsor the social media application and thereby create a continuing need for use until it becomes addictive. In this way, gambling problems or better known as problems can be triggered. “gambling”; causing other collateral damage in the medium and long term (incarceration, bankruptcies, relationship problems, etc.).

Learn step by step how to activate parental control to protect your family

To side with parents and guardians, TikTok has introduced a parental control tool that allows optimize the user experience of teenagers in terms of security and privacy. In addition, through this functionality, it will be possible to prevent said users from creating an addiction with the platform; which, It is harmful and affects all areas of your lifewithout any control.

Therefore, to ensure that your child is more productive in activities that generate good learning and positive things for their day-to-day life, we recommend using TikTok parental control, based on the following solutions:

Turn on Screen Time Management

Although it is true, the digital detox available on TikTok is defined as a functionality of the social network that used to control and restrict screen time in order to acquire a better management of the activity on the platform. In addition to this, this utility allows choose the content you want to seein order to avoid any type of offensive content.

From said function, the parents and/or representatives they will be able to improve the user experience of their childrenso take care of them in the face of any vulnerability present in the social network. Therefore, to begin with, we will emphasize the option that allows you to manage screen time and well, it has the ability to block the app when the number of minutes per day that have been previously stipulated is reached.

If you want to enable Screen Time Management on your children’s TikTok accounts, in order to establish parental control; the steps to follow are:

• First of all, log in to the account in question and go to the profile page, directly from the “I” icon at the bottom right of the feed part.
• Next, go to the upper right corner of the profile and there, press the three dots vertically to see the menu Settings and privacy.
• Then through the section Content and activityproceed to select “Digital Detox”.
• After that, choose the option that indicates “Screen Time Management” and in Time limit, choose the number of daily minutes to support the use of the social network. So press the button “Turn on Screen Time Management”.
• Now, enter an access code that will be the password with which you can manage this function. A) Yes, It only remains to confirm and press “Next”.

Use restricted mode

This is an alternative that allows limit the content that appears on the social networkfor a given account TikTok. In other words, through the Restricted Mode, parents and/or guardians will be able to determine the types of videos that will be shown to their children in order to, prevent them from watching inappropriate clips on issues of violence, sexuality or any other sensitive issue. Thanks to this, it has been cataloged as an ideal tool to carry out parental control in TikTok in profiles of minors.

As a consequence, if you want to activate TikTok parental control based on Restricted Mode, you will have to do the following step by step:

• Access the mobile app and enter the account of your represented. For later, choose the icon “Me” at the bottom right of the screen.
• Later, when you are in the profile sectiontouch the three dots located in the upper right corner to enter the Settings and privacy menu.
• Now, select the option “Digital Detox”within the Content and activity section.
• Followed by it, click on “Restricted mode” and there, press the button that indicates “Enable Restricted Mode”.
• Then choose a numeric code from access and insert it in the indicated place, so that activate this utility by clicking on “Next” the relevant times.

Use Family Sync

Apart from the digital detox, TikTok It has a functionality that is known as “Digital Sync” and consists of a tool that allows minors to use the platform under the supervision of their parents or guardians, at all times.

In this way, they will be able to select the time of use, limit certain users from sending them private messages and reserve inappropriate content. In terms of parental control, this option works much better than the ones outlined above, although all are recommended. In this sense, if you want to make use of Family Synchronization to obtain its advantages, it is necessary activate the function by means of two smartphones.

Whereas, the procedure to follow is:

• After downloading the app in the two mobile devices in question, you have to enter the social network and choose the “Me” icon at the bottom to access your profile.
• In second place, press the three dots at the top right of the screen and so, you can view the Settings and privacy menu.
• Later, in the Content and activity part, select the “Family sync” option and there, tap on “Legal guardian” to press Next.
• Followed by it, click on “Next” and log in on your child’s account with another computer to regain access to the portion of family sync (as we explained to you). But in this case, it’s time to choose the “Minor” option to scan the QR code (from the minor’s mobile) and link both accounts.
• At this point, you can start setting a viewing time limit for the minor, as well as exclude inappropriate content and control the sending of messages by certain users. This, through each of the corresponding options.