TikTok is a free social media app that lets you watch, create, and share videos (usually to the soundtrack of popular songs in music) right from your phone. It was originally available as Musical.ly in the US, but changed its name when the two apps merged in August 2018. With more than 100 million users, TikTok is popular because of its clever blend of features from other kids’ favorites. Like the lip-syncing app Dubsmash, users can watch and record videos of themselves lip-syncing to popular music and sounds. Just like they did on the now-discontinued Vine, kids can make short, shareable videos ranging from funny to serious. Just like YouTube, TikTok is a world of interactive videos that allow you to connect with friends and admirers through likes, comments, and even duets.

TikTok has even produced its own influencers. Before TikTok’s acquisition of musicals, overnight sensations like Baby Ariel and Jacob Sartorius gained online fame on the app, especially among children and teens. Since then, more stars have joined the roster.

But with so much information out there, it can be a challenge for parents to know if it’s actually safe. While TikTok videos are mostly harmless and creative, there are real concerns about kids using the app. As with any social network, you must use privacy settings to limit how much information you and your children share. Kids can post content without first reviewing or editing it. There are even reports of online predators using the app to target younger users. In 2019, TikTok paid millions of dollars to settle with federal regulators, who accused the company of violating children’s privacy laws.

Read Common Sense Media’s full review of TikTok and help your kids use it safely by answering the most frequently asked questions from parents below.

What is TikTok?

TikTok is a social network for sharing user generated videos, where most people lip-sync popular songs. It was originally called musical.ly. Users can create and upload their own videos where they lip sync, sing, dance or just chat. You can also browse and interact with other users’ content, which covers a wide range of topics, songs, and styles. These videos can be grouped by tags, which usually correspond to challenges or memes.

How safe is TikTok?

Using any social network can be risky, but kids can use the app safely under adult supervision (and with private accounts). When you sign up for TikTok, your account is public by default, which means anyone can see your videos, send you direct messages, and use your location. Parents should make sure that all privacy settings are turned on for the account their child uses, so that only people you know can interact with your videos or send you messages on apps. This means you either choose a private account or change the settings for comments, duets, reactions and messages to “Friends” instead of “Everyone”. You can also turn these features off entirely.

How does TikTok work?

TikTok users sign up with a phone number, email address, Facebook or Instagram. Once logged in, you can search for videos by popular creators, categories (comedy, animals, sports) and hashtags. Alternatively, you can use phone contacts or social media followers to find friends on the app. Many kids on TikTok love to create videos, but many don’t post photos of themselves, they just use the app to find and follow content creators.

Is TikTok right for kids?

Because of TikTok’s emphasis on pop music, many videos include swearing and sex lyrics, so it may not be age-appropriate for kids to use it on their own. While TikTok won’t let you search for offensive content like “sex” or “pornography,” it’s also easy to find people wearing suggestive clothing and dancing. If you supervise your kids and stick to songs you already know on the radio, TikTok will be a kid-like experience.

In 2019, after settling with the Federal Trade Commission over violations of children’s privacy for all children under 13 on the site, developers created a separate section of the app for kids, allowing them to access only curated, clean videos. They cannot comment, search or post their own videos. However, bypassing this part only requires entering the wrong birthday. Users can also earn TikTok bonus points by inviting friends to download the app, which they can then redeem for coupons from brands like Sephora and Uber. It is also possible to spend real money by adding virtual coins to your e-wallet.

What age does TikTok recommend?

Common sense suggests the app is suitable for users over 15, mainly due to privacy concerns and mature content. TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old to use the app. Anyone under the age of 18 must have parental or guardian approval – but there are plenty of young tween users. If your child or teen wishes to use the app, the account should belong to an adult who can monitor which younger users are browsing and sharing. The app section mentioned above also targets kids under 13, limiting their access to adult content and comments, but since it’s easy to mistype a birthday, it’s still the best option for older teens.

How to make your TikTok account private?

To make your TikTok account private, go to your profile page and select the three dot icon in the upper right corner. Choose Privacy and Security. There, toggle the switch for “Private Accounts”. You can also choose who can send you comments and direct messages, and who can duet with you. Using the “Friends” setting or turning these features off completely limits contact with strangers.

How to delete TikTok videos?

To delete a TikTok video posted to your account, select the video you want to delete from your profile. From here, tap the “…” icon in the bottom right corner and select “Delete” or the trash can icon. You will be asked if you are sure you want to delete the video. It will then be removed from your profile.

How to delete TikTok account?

To delete your TikTok account, go to your profile and select the “…” icon in the upper right corner. Select Manage my account. From there, you must add a phone number if you haven’t already. This must be a work number as they will send you a code to verify the number and then send you a verification code to delete the account. After adding a phone number, an option will appear at the bottom of the Manage My Account menu asking “Are you thinking of deleting your account?” Tap the phrase, which will take you to a new page prompting you to enter a verification code. Select “Send Code” to receive a text message with a verification code. Enter a number and select Continue. You will get information about the information you need to delete your account.

How to use TikTok with kids?

You can watch and make videos with your kids to provide a buffer between kids and chores. Offer to hold the camera or rotate it for a selfie duet. You can publish it or keep it “private” so only you can see it. The app also lets you share videos via email, text, or other social media, where you have more control over who sees the video, so kids can perform for friends and family rather than a wider network.

How do you do a duet on TikTok?

TikTok has a feature that allows two users who are not in the same place to do a duet. Both users have to follow each other for this to work. One user creates and posts a video, then co-followers can click the “…” icon in the bottom right corner of the video and select “Start Duet Now!” A second user can then lip-sync with the first, Swap back and forth or do it in split screen.

Is there any way to limit or restrict my child’s activity on TikTok?

TikTok offers some parental controls in its digital wellbeing section. You have two options for setting them:

· You can enable features on your child’s phone and protect them with a password.

Alternatively, you can download TikTok on your own phone and enable Family Pairing in the app to control your child’s phone from the device.

Whichever way you choose to enable parental controls, you can do it by clicking the three dots in the upper right corner of the user’s profile. Then, next to the umbrella icon, select Digital Wellbeing. From there, choose the features you want to enable:

Screen time management. This setting limits users to the app for up to two hours per day, but you can limit it to 40 minutes. If enabling this feature only on your child’s phone, choose a passcode to lock the settings.

restricted mode. This blocks adult content, but even with the filter enabled, kids using their own apps may encounter age-inappropriate videos. Lock the settings with a password.

Family pairing. Using this feature, you can control both of the above settings from your own phone, and you can also disable direct messaging on your child’s account. After downloading TikTok and creating your own account, you can go to “Family Match” and sync the account to your child’s account via a QR code. Once synced, you can start managing your kids”

Remember that kids can always redownload TikTok and create a new account with a different phone number or email address, so any controls you enable are not foolproof.

How can I monitor my child’s activity on TikTok?

There’s no way to filter out content on TikTok except in “restricted mode,” so parents are encouraged to share an account with kids under 13. This will allow you to keep an eye on what your child is viewing and posting. Parents of older kids are more difficult to monitor, they can ask their favorite video creators and learn about their videos (with or without your kids). Also, take the time to regularly check out the most popular songs, videos, memes and challenges.

What if my child wants to be famous on TikTok?

While the safest way to use TikTok is with a private account, the social nature of the app and its meteoric success with its stars may have your kids begging to make it public. There’s a huge lure to fame, which might encourage kids to do things they wouldn’t normally do to reach a larger audience. They may also indulge in “likes” and virtual approvals. Encourage and model safe behaviors and make sure to set limits on the types of information your child shares.