The rise of social media has brought on a generation that is increasingly reliant on digital platforms for communication, entertainment, and social interaction. When these platforms all began, they were filled with teenagers, few adults, and children could be found on the streets of social media. This isn’t the case anymore.
Popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram, which are known for their short-form video content, have captured millions with their entertaining content. However, with the popularity of such platforms, we now face the crucial need to safeguard younger users from inappropriate content.
TikTok’s Age Limit
TikTok, like many other popular social media platforms, has an age restriction to ensure the safety and well-being of its users. To create a TikTok account, individuals must be at least 13 years old or 14 years old in Quebec, South Korea, and Indonesia. However, there is an exception to this rule.
In the United States, children under 13 can create TikTok accounts. However, they will be automatically entered into the Under-13 TikTok Experience. This mode has special features to safeguard its users including a dedicated Privacy Policy, no direct messaging, screen time restrictions, and the account set to Private by default.
Why the Age Restrictions?
There are many reasons why Tiktok would implement their age restrictions. They include:
- Safeguarding Young Users: Social media can expose minors to inappropriate content, online predators, and cyberbullying. These children aren’t mature enough to pick out the harmful from the good and are more likely to fall prey to the bad eggs on social media. By setting an age limit, TikTok aims to mitigate these risks.
- Adherence to Regulations: Numerous countries have passed laws governing online services for minors. TikTok’s age restriction is designed to align with these regulations, showing that the platform is committed to complying with legal frameworks designed to protect children.
- Creating a Positive Community: A platform populated by users who are mature enough to navigate the intricacies of online interactions will be more positive and inclusive.
Consequences of Age Violation
TikTok takes age verification seriously. If a user is found to be under the required age, their account will be banned.
You can also report accounts that you suspect are run by children under the required age. TikTok will investigate, and if the user is determined to be underage, they’d be banned.
Parental Guidance and Controls
Parental guidance is still important for users who reach the age limit. As such, TikTok offers several features to help parents manage their children’s experience on the platform:
- Restricted Mode: This feature ensures that some sensitive content is restricted from your child’s account.
- Screen Time Management: This feature sets a limit on how much time your child can spend on TikTok.
- Comment Care: This feature filters comments that are inappropriate or offensive from your child’s feed.
- Direct Messaging Controls: This helps to manage who can send direct messages to your child’s account.
- Family Pairing: This lets you link your child’s account to yours for better, and more hands-on monitoring of their feed and app usage.
Conclusion
While TikTok provides these safety features, it’s important to have a conversation with your child about online safety. Discuss the importance of privacy settings, responsible content creation, and the potential risks of interacting with strangers online.
Remember, technology is a tool, and it’s up to us to use it responsibly.
