Every day, nearly two billion people across the world pick up their smartphone and tap the TikTok app. On average, users visit the app eight times per day and spend 95 minutes consuming content. Studies show 32.5% of users are under 19. If your child is using this popular social media platform, it is sucking up a large portion of their day and has incredible influence over their thinking, mannerisms, and peer connectivity. You may think it’s a safe, fun way to connect with friends. Do you know what your children are seeing while on TikTok?
Don’t assume social media, especially TikTok, is neutral. It’s not. In reality, it leans more toward developmentally disastrous than playful and carefree. The Wall Street Journal conducted a study and found TikTok promoting sexual content to users under the age of 15. The investigation also uncovered videos containing pornography, drugs, and alcohol. Some videos promoted porn subscription services. This content is not hidden. It’s right out in the open and kids, even kids who have filters and parental controls on their devices, are still seeing inappropriate videos and images on TikTok regularly.
Kids’ brains are wired to mimic what they see. The consequences of seeing inappropriate content before you’re mature enough to handle it include attitude changes, risky behavior, and poor decision-making. It’s a trap kids don’t know exists and TikTok is a playground for mature visuals. Are you watching what they’re watching?
One of the real dangers of TikTok are its “challenges” that gain popularity. These entice users to participate in increasingly dangerous, and often illegal, activities like purposefully burning or concussing themselves. Arrests have been made after teens were caught creating videos for TikTok of themselves harming people or property.
There are a lot of things for parents to worry about concerning TikTok. You can’t sit on the sidelines with this. You must take control of this experience for your child. They are young, impressionable, and immature and are being taught by strangers on TikTok. Perhaps they are learning wholesome, harmless things like cooking techniques or juggling tips. But they may also get pulled into the quicksand that is mature content and delinquent behavior. Don’t get overwhelmed. Check out this video from our Child Safety Series and get involved today.
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “Why do you and your friends like social media?”