TikTok
What is TikTok?
TikTok is a video platform built around the personalised For You feed, search, Following feeds, video creation, comments, Duets, Stitches, direct messages, and LIVE. Recommendations use signals such as interactions and content information, which can make feeds differ substantially between accounts.
Age limit: TikTok generally requires users to be at least 13, subject to local rules and separate experiences in some markets. [1]
Accounts aged 13–15 are private by default. Direct messages require age 16, while hosting LIVE and sending Gifts during LIVE require age 18; feature availability also varies by country. [1] [2] [3] [4]
TikTok also requires creators to label realistic AI-generated content and may add labels automatically when supported content credentials or other signals are detected. [6]
Why do kids like it?
- The feed adapts quickly. Interests, humour, music, and niche communities can appear after only a few interactions.
- Creation tools are easy to use. Music, effects, captions, Duets, and Stitches lower the effort needed to make a video.
- Trends feel shared. Sounds and formats let people participate in a common activity.
- Communities form around specific interests. Art, sport, books, games, study, and many other topics have active audiences.
What are the real risks?
- Recommendations can become repetitive or unsuitable. Watch time and interactions can lead to more similar material, including content a teen did not deliberately search for.
- Public interactions can reach unknown people. Comments, followers, LIVE, and incorrectly aged accounts can create contact beyond a teen’s existing friends.
- LIVE happens in real time. Eligible accounts can receive comments and Gifts while broadcasting, leaving less time to reconsider what is shown. [4]
- Short videos can extend a viewing session. Continuous playback and personalisation can make elapsed time less noticeable.
- AI-altered media can be misleading. Labels add context but do not prove that every altered video has been identified or labelled correctly. [6]
Settings to check
- Check account privacy: Open Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Privacy → Private account, and confirm the choice shown for the teen’s age. Accounts aged 13–15 are private by default. [2]
- Review interaction controls: Open Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Privacy, and check comments, mentions, tags, Duet, Stitch, downloads, and account suggestions. Available options vary by age. [2]
- Review direct messages where eligible: Open Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Privacy → Direct messages, and choose who may send requests or messages. Direct messages are unavailable below age 16. [3]
- Connect Family Pairing: Open Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Family Pairing on both accounts, link parent and teen, and review the controls provided for time, content, search, privacy, and messaging. [5]
- Review screen time: Open Profile → ☰ → Settings and privacy → Screen time, and check daily limits, breaks, sleep reminders, and the dashboard. Defaults and choices vary by age and Family Pairing. [5]
- Check AI labels before sharing: Open the post options for realistic AI-generated or significantly AI-edited content, turn on the AI-generated label where required, and review any automatic label before publishing. [6]
How to talk about it
“What signals do you think tell TikTok to show you more or less of something?”
“Which settings make it easier for TikTok to feel like your space rather than a public stage?”
“How do you decide whether a video is real, edited, AI-generated, or still uncertain?”
Last reviewed: September 2026