TikTok App Guide: What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know
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After briefly shutting down on January 19, 2025, TikTok is back online and the deadline for the ban against the app has been extended. The app (and other apps by ByteDance such as Lemon8 and CapCut) is currently not available for download in the app store.
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TikTok, a social media app dedicated to short-form videos, allows users to watch and create videos that are 15 to 60 seconds long. It is wildly popular among U.S. teens and young adults who enjoy watching and creating their own videos. The built-in video creation tools make it easy for users to add filters, songs, effects, and sound bites without any additional apps.
Students go to TikTok for comic relief, to escape from stress, learn “life hacks,” connect with influencers/celebrities, learn trending tips and tricks, practice video-editing skills, stay current with world happenings, and even try lip syncing to popular songs. Students may run into inappropriate content while using the app, so it is important to have an open dialogue with your student so they know what to do if they get into an uncomfortable situation.
Educators and parents: Guide your students' reflection and discussion with this student worksheet. (Log in to your Google account and select File-->Make a Copy)
Full Event Replay (Parent Video)
Top Concerns about TikTok
- TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance and there have been concerns about how secure personal information is on the app
- TikTok may recommend “harmful” content to young users, although TikTok does make an effort to redirect searches for subjects such as self-harm or eating disorders to suicide and crisis phone number (Source: Good Morning America)
- The app boasts an “endless stream” of content for users to watch, which can promote addictive behavior in students
- Social media challenges encourage students to create their own videos and sometimes include students being influenced by peer pressure to perform dangerous act(s) that can get them into legal trouble
Why do students want to be on TikTok?
- It's a great way for students to express themselves creatively
- TikTok connects friends and inspires creative things to try at home
- TikTok moderators work to remove inappropriate videos in the app
Screen Time Addiction Tips for TikTok
- TikTok is made to be addictive, so it is important to be intentional about how students are spending time on the app
- Review screen time reports to know how much time you generally spend on your TikTok account
- Parents and students should dialogue about a student’s responsibilities and where TikTok fits in, then decide together how much time is ok to spend on the app
- Take advantage of Android's Digital Wellbeing and Apple's Screen Time settings or implement another screen time app to take control of screen time
Additional Information About TikTok
- Users must set up an account to view content in the app; however, they can view content on a desktop without an account. Their friends may text them links to videos they can watch through the web browser on their phone
- Like many social platforms, users can like, comment, save, and share posts
- Students will talk about their favorite videos or popular videos with their friends at school and may view them on their friends’ phones, even if they aren't allowed to use the device during school hours
- Students can create a second account using a different phone number or email address than their original account
- The app offers Direct Messages. This feature is automatically disabled for users under the age of 16
What is TikTok rated?
Apple App iOS app Store Rating: 12+
Google Play Store Rating: T (Teen)
App Developer website: TikTok (based in China, owned by ByteDance)
Common TikTok phrases/terms parents should know
- FYP (#fyp): For Your Page—creators use this hashtag to increase views and brand visibility with the hopes of making it into other users’ FYP
- IB: Inspired By—Usually used with an @ to tag the original creator
- DC: Dance Credit—The user is giving credit to the original creator of the dance
- POV: Point of View—A creator may tell the viewers how to watch the video
- OOMF: One Of My Followers
- Heather: Is usually meant to describe someone as gorgeous or desirable
- Green screen: A backdrop that allows TikTok effects, photos, or images to appear
- Accountant: Slang code word for being a sex worker or OnlyFans creator
- P(star emoji): Porn Star
- Simp: Insult to someone who goes out of their way to do things for someone they like and hope to start dating but ends up in the "friend" zone
TikTok Community Guidelines
- TikTok does say they remove content that they believe violates their Community Guidelines, but inappropriate videos still get posted on other platforms and are often seen thousands of times before they are removed
- Drugs, controlled substances, alcohol, and tobacco are technically not allowed, but are very prevalent
- Accounts for users under 16 cannot use direct messaging, host livestreams, and their content cannot appear in other users’ For You feed (but students often misrepresent their age when signing up)
- Grooming behaviors are when an adult tries to build a relationship with a student to gain their trust. TikTok says they look for these types of interactions between adult accounts and minor accounts, BUT most predators work under minor aliases as part of their grooming tactic
Why should parents & educators care?
- It’s easy for students to come across mature content or triggering content that could promote negative self esteem, self-harm, or eating disorders; such content can also cause a cyberbullying problem that can move offline
- Accounts for students aged 13-15 are automatically set to private, and duet and stitch are disabled for users under age 16
- Users cannot change their age on TikTok without talking to customer support; however, they can enter their age incorrectly when they initially set up their account
- Students can find ways to prevent content from getting flagged and to bypass TikTok’s content filters by using creative hashtags and purposely misspelling words
Examples of TikTok dangers from the news
TikTok has more than a billion users. That includes about 150 million Americans. Under China’s authoritarian state, the government has sweeping control over tech companies and their data. U.S. officials are worried that China will use TikTok to promote its interests and gather Americans’ personal information. - The New York Times
The (TikTok) algorithm recognizes vulnerability and, instead of seeing it as something it should be careful around, it sees it as a potential point of addiction – of helping to maximize time on the platform for that child by serving them up content that might trigger some of the pre-existing concerns. - The Guardian
Ava Majury downloaded TikTok when she was 13…Ava noticed that one fan was trying to get her attention in comments on TikTok. He messaged her in Snapchat and on Instagram, and turned up in online games she played with her brothers… The fan was an 18 year old man who arrived with a shotgun at Ava’s family home. - The New York Times
Settings and Privacy Recommendations for TikTok
Navigating TikTok Safety & Security (Parent Video)
How to set your TikTok account to private
- Select “Profile” then press the three lines in the top right corner
- Click on "Settings and privacy" in your settings
- Select “Privacy” and slide “Private account” over until it turns blue
How to set your liked videos to private
- Click on "Privacy" in your settings
- Tap “ Liked videos”
- Select “Only you”
How to turn off Stitch and Duet
Stitch and Duet are functions that allow user content to be reposted and shared by other users and can potentially be a source of cyberbullying. It is disabled for users under 16. Older users may still want to disable this setting.
- Click on "Privacy" in your settings
- Find “Duet” and “Stitch”
- Select “Only me” on each of them
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How to Limit Who Can Send Messages and Comment on TikTok Videos
- Click on "Privacy" in your settings and then select “Comments”
- Click the slider next to “Filter all comments” so that it turns blue
- Click on “Comments” and select “Followers that you follow back.” This will ensure students do not receive direct messages from strangers
Family Pairing
- Family Pairing through TikTok allows families to work together to set screen time limits and monitor what the teen can see
- Family Pairing does require the adult to have an account on their own device, but even if you don’t use it every day, we always recommend parents being on the same apps as their kids
From the parent’s TikTok account, Family Pairing can be used to help the student with:
- Screen Time Management
- Restricted Mode, which limits inappropriate content
- Limits what content can be seen
- When Restricted Mode is on the user cannot log out to then log into another account
- Search
Go to Settings and privacy:
1: Scroll down and tap "Family Pairing”
2: Select the "Teen" option
3: Open TikTok on the parent’s phone and go to the Family Pairing screen in "Settings & Privacy"
4: Select "Parent"
5: Use your teen’s device to scan the QR code on the parent’s device or send an invite link to a phone number, email, or social media platform
Family Pairing Recommendations
- Privacy and safety
- Private account:Keep your account private until you are ready
- Who can send direct messages to your teen: Our recommendation is “Friends” or “No one”
- Who can view your teen’s liked videos: Our recommendation is “Only your teen”
- Who can comment on your teen’s videos: Our recommendation is “Friends” or “No one”
Branding your TikTok profile
1: Start by branding your profile to put your best foot forward. Click on “profile” then “Edit Profile” to get started
2: Profile Photo: Use a clear smiling photo of yourself (the same photo across all of your accounts)
3: Name: Use the name you will use on your college admissions (or what you go by most often)
4: Username: Use something very similar to the name people will Google when they learn about you
5: Bio: Write 1-2 lines about yourself and possibly what school you attend (when you are ready for colleges to find you)
6: Connect your Instagram and YouTube: Optional adding links to your social profiles
Additional Resources
Positive Impact of Social Media & Screen Time (What Students, Parents, & Educators Need to Know)
Making Screen Time Fun While Reducing the Negative Impact
Instagram App Guide (2024): What Parents, Educators, & Students Need to Know
Social Media Challenges: What Students, Parents & Educators Need to Know
Conclusion
TikTok is an extremely popular app among students. Parents can work with their students to find ways to use the app safely and in a way that fits with their family values. It is important to engage in a dialogue about appropriate ways to use TikTok, current social media challenges, and what to do in the event that students come across content that makes them feel uncomfortable.
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This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!
Sharon M.
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