Given the above, here is what we can do, to make TikTok safer. However please note and we have discussed this with TikTok. Privacy settings will not prevent a young user from seeing very inappropriate content in their feed, there is some example below.
We recommend if you see something you really don't like on TikTok, contact the local Police. Go down to the station. Report it.
Teachers will tell you bullying has moved online, a broken nose is nothing in comparison to the damage a keyboard warrior can inflict. Life online is more robust, that's simply a fact. Street angel, online devil, even to friends, spikey, emotional, abrasive, nasty and mean spirited and that's just the boys.
Profile setup is easy, in Tiktok, Real Name, Real Picture, 'Private' not 'Everyone'. Do not let TikTok suggest your account to others. Lock your account to the strongest setting where friends can chat, duet, have fun safely. Set your interests up carefully.
Frankly, this is not enough, as TikTok do not moderate, control, curate the content flowing into peoples feed.
Naturally, TikTok needs to find what it thinks you might be interested in after joining two hours, their defence is simple, kids are not permitted on our portal as that's what in our EULA (End User License Agreement).
The girl twirls to reveal her chest, moves a little more, we lost interest and swiped up.
Then came our friendly everyday racists, somehow TikTok thinks we are all interested in this. Finally, an armed raid, weapons were drawn being filmed by morons in line of fire, happily, it ends with a short round of fisticuffs and what seemed an overwhelming Police victory. All three videos are live at the time of writing. In January 2021, TikTok announced all young teenagers will be automatically set to private. However, they can reload or switch to open, if they want to. So it is a meaningless gesture, intended to play for time, at this rate of growth it is quite TikTok will have near monopoly in social media. 64% of all TikTok users are under 24.
January 2021 - In the Apple Store Looking for TikTok but offered Houseparty top of the list, Apple and TikTok are having a lovers tiff. Once that row is sorted TikTok will take is place again at the top of the list. Houseparty has also grown since Covid19
Age Verification - Must be over 13 Nice and easy to put in my Age (which is good, No tricks there). I told I was ten years of age. 31 Dec 2010
Refusal - Maybe when you are older, like 13 Next step is to delete, then re-download the Android, Apple Store, and lie about your age, with NO age verification
TikTok Request Code - Totally Standard Security to check you can be reached at your phone, email.
TikTok (2nd pic) - Interests We recommend you 'Skip', option at bottom of the screen to see what TikTok thinks you might like
Swipe Up (2nd pic) - Ready to go. How to use TikTok, swipe up to see next Vid. Swipe right to see TikTokers account.
This is how we switch an account to private which is recommended by Polices Forces worldwide. This means you or your kids can accept/refuse access to the account. Tip - Kids hate refusing, tell them they have as part the deal to use Tiktok. If your kid has a TikTok account, please suggest they move to 'My Friends Only', switch off everyone
Find the 3 little dots, as shown above, tap into this.
We want to set up privacy for the best use by kids. Note this makes TikTok safer but NOT safe.
So let's get started. Checking the options we need. The purpose is to make your TikTok as safe as possible but making it less visible to the world. Follow our option, important DO not switch on the option, 'Suggest your account to others'. Leave that one 'off', or greyed out like above
Use these screens to switch Restricted mode for the appropriate, it is better than nothing. And you can set Time-limits we selected to the 60-minutes a day option. This works well. Well done TikTok here. Note these are the Digital wellbeing option only, Restricted Mod On or Off and Time Limits. Two choices only.
At TikTok, we know that creativity and expression are personal. And so is privacy. That's why we empower our community with a range of controls to manage their online presence. As young people start their digital journey, we believe it's important to provide them with age-appropriate privacy settings and controls. Today we're announcing changes for users under age 18 aimed at driving higher default standards for user privacy and safety.
Additional changes we're rolling out to promote a safe experience for our younger users include: Note; we BeSecureOnline have edited for brevity only
Of course, the above would mean a lot more if they actually enforced age verification, their privacy settings are not the worst, it is easy to set up, monitor and change. The problem is the videos in your feed, that's the elephant in the room and it clear that TikTok is unable/unwilling to curate or control this content. In contrast to Facebook who took meaningful steps to moderate self-harm content on Instagram following Holly Russell incident.
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