TikTok

TikTok Quick Reference Guide

Quick Reference Guide	Yes	No	Unknown	Comments
Access to Camera (device camera)
Access to Contacts (on the device)
Access to Photo Gallery (on the device)
Anonymous Posting (posting without a username or other identifiers)
Business Accounts (used for business)
Clear History Function				Videos can be deleted from the account, but videos can be saved by followers. Once a video is saved it can not be deleted.
Collects User's Information
Connect with Strangers (ability to)
Cyberbullying Opportunities
Death Themes and/or Dark Content/Imagery/References
Designed to be Purposefully Deceptive
Direct Messaging (private)
Disappearing Messaging/Images
Drug/Alcohol/Vaping/Tobacco/Imagery
Eating Disorder Content/Imagery/References
Emoji Search (search content with emojis like keywords or hashtags)
Established Accounts Available for Purchase Online				Accounts with preloaded followers are available on eBay.
Firearms Content/Imagery/References
Graphic Content (images of death, car crashes etc.)
Graphic Content Warning (blurred graphic content before viewing)
Group Chat Function
Group Video Chat Function
Hashtag Use (uses hashtags as a search/directory)
Hidden Photo Vault
Hidden Web Browser
Image Sharing
Live Streaming Function
Location Dependent Services*				*Must use location for it to function
Location Services Enabling				From The TikTok Privacy Page: “Location data We collect information about your location, including location information based on your SIM card and/or IP address. With your permission, we may also collect Global Positioning System (GPS) data.”
Login with Facebook
Marketing (sponsored content)
“Memories” (from past posts)
Mental Health Content/Imagery/References
Nudity (without clothes, no sexual acts)				Nudity is prohibited but can be found. It’s often removed quickly
Offline Functionality (can be accessed without WiFi/cell service)				For Android Users
Original Content (shows, news, movies)
Password Protected (beyond account password)
Photo Filters and Editing
Pornography
Privacy Settings (able to set account as private)
Purchases, In-App, for Sponsored Content
Purchases, In-App, Provided by the App (app related products)
Reporting Functions (report bullying, inappropriate content)
Scoring System (trophies, points, rewards, etc.)
Screen Recording Notification
Screenshot Notifications “Stories”
Screenshot Notifications Pictures/Videos
Search Function (content within the app)
Self-Injury Content (sexual acts, pictures or videos)
Self-Promotion (for popularity or marketing)
Sexual Accounts Accessible by Purchase
Sexualized Content
“Stories” Posts
Suicide Content
Upgradable (for more content or to remove ads)
Video Chatting
Video Sharing
Violence
Voice Chatting
Web Browsing (build into the app)

TikTok Content Levels

Content Levels	Low	Moderate	High	N/A	Notes
Drug / Alcohol Content (posts, discussion, imagery)
Eating Disorder (topics, content, posts, discussion, imagery, etc.)
Graphic Content (images of death, car crashes etc.)
Mental Health Content
Nudity
Self-Injury Content
Sexualized Topics (content, posts, imagery)
Suicide Topics (content, posts, discussion)
Vaping Topics (content, posts, imagery)
Violence

While TikTok has inappropriate content on it, not all users are posting/viewing inappropriate content. However, stumbling upon it will happen. Setting expectations and discussing behaviors for using the app is very important as a parent. TikTok itself isn’t dangerous, but a youth posting risky content could turn into a dangerous situation.

When discussing TikTok with youth, I’m talking to all age ranges. I’ve had discussions with 2nd graders and 12^th graders about using TikTok. My main concerns are for younger youth using TikTok and what they will be exposed to. I have a TikTok account and have been scrolling through posts fairly consistently to develop this review. There is much mature content on TikTok.

Mental health content is not as searchable as it is on other platforms such as Instagram or Snapchat. Using mental health hashtags that are current does not take you to users posting about mental health, but that’s not to say that there aren’t mental-health-sharing accounts; I just haven’t found them yet.  TikTok’s platform design is about sharing fun, surprising, shocking, funny, and snarky videos. I haven’t found dark themed accounts as of this writing.

Drug, alcohol, and vaping content is available by search. A quick search of #vape will get you to posts and accounts where you can view vaping. #Vape currently has 242.6 million posts. #Vapetricks (122.6 million posts) will take you to some very creative vaping videos. #weed will not get you to the drug related content, however #w33d (112K posts) will show you videos related to marijuana. #420 has 61.1 million posts, and #alcohol currently has 24.6 million videos.

There is a lot of sexual content on TikTok. A quick search of #nude will, as of this writing, get you “no results”.  However, a search of #kinkyaf (1.8 million posts) will take you directly to mature theme content. #kinkyteens currently has 21K posts.  A quick random scroll through the most popular videos included: burning calories during sex, a girl asking about anal sex, a “how I became a lesbian” post, a video about marijuana, a girl talking about her Paypal account she has to “make a business deal” to her men followers, what woman’s thighs should be like, a woman talking about threesomes with her boyfriend, and a woman talking about watching too much Pornhub.

TikTok Safety Tips:

My #1 recommendation: If you are going to let your child have a TikTok account, you should have an account as well so that you can effectively educate them on how to use it responsibly. Part of teaching them is knowing what content is on the app.

Here are some other suggestions.

• Do not use full names as usernames.
• Set the account to private. Here is how.
• Set your privacy settings and who can see/download content. Here is how.
• Do not post personal information such as drivers’ licenses, school IDs, state IDs, phone numbers, birth certificates, school schedules, and/or other identifying information.
• Turn off location services. Here is how for Apple and Android devices.
• Use the reporting system when they see inappropriate content. Here is how.
• Talk to a parent if they see a concerning post from a friend (mental health, bullying, inappropriate posts, etc).
• Be aware that videos can be easily saved from TikTok. Here is how.
• Report bullying both through TikTok’s reporting function and to a parent.
• Save videos/screenshots of bullying behaviors.
• Block bullies.
• Stick with the age restrictions
• Even though an account is private, privacy isn’t guaranteed. Once a post is shared it is totally out of the user’s
• A digital reputation begins the moment an account is opened. What they post now could affect them later in life.
• Where kids are online, predators are online. Predators especially would be attracted to apps that young people use and apps that parents are not well versed with. TikTok has many young users on it posting borderline inappropriate content. There is also direct private messaging on TikTok. This could make this app very desirable for a predator who would want to connect to a young person. Be aware of who your child(ren) is/are talking to online.
• The current age restriction for TikTok is 12. I’m not sure why this is the recommended age, but I very much disagree with this number. I would not recommend children less than 17 use TikTok

~ Ryan

People my age love TikTok! I spend the majority of my time on my phone looking at TikTok. Making videos with my friends is one of my favorite pastimes. Some of the common things I come across are dance videos, advertisements and a fair amount of crude humor. With that being said, I am 17 years old and when I see an inappropriate video, I have enough sense to simply scroll past it. However, a curious child may not do the same. They can look at a joke and not understand it which will cause them to research the meaning, which leads to dangerous overexposure. That’s why I believe no one should get TikTok until they’re 14.

Parental controls are extremely limited on TikTok. There is a “For You” page where any kind of video can show up and a following section. Even if your child does not have the app, they still have the ability to scroll through the For You page on the TikTok website.  My recommendation for parents is to limit the amount of time you allow your child to spend on TikTok because it can be addictive and lead to less productivity.

My advice for any child who is eager to join TikTok is that when you are my age, you will be so thankful that you received the app at the appropriate time.

~ Giovanna N., 11th grade

About Giovanna:

Giovanna is a junior at Montour High School. She is a varsity cheerleader and enjoys participating in clubs such as Student Council, Future Business Leaders of America and Cure Finders. After High School, she plans on majoring in Information Science with a focus in Data Analytics or Computer Security.

TikTok is an app that should only be used by teens. There is content on the app that is not appropriate for teens under 16 years old. Most of that content is coming from adults that use the app. Adults make sexual references, use vulgar language and create videos that are not appropriate for young kids. All in all it’s not an inappropriate app. It’s just certain people using it that make it inappropriate.

~ Kaitlin S., 12th grade

About Kaitlin:

Kaitlin is a senior at Bellwood-Antis High School. She has been a dancer since the age of 3 and on her dance school’s competition team since she was 11. She is a member of Avedium club and Vice President of Renaissance club. She participates in many school events like mini-THON and leadership field trips. After high school, she plans on attending California University of Pennsylvania to get her associates degree in Physical Therapy Assistant and eventually go on to get her Doctorate of Physical Therapy.