TikTok is centered around short-form video content, covering almost every topic imaginable, from gaming and comedy to politics and crafting. The powerful algorithm curates a personalized feed based on viewing habits, likes, and how long you watch a video – meaning no two experiences are the same, and <\/span>it can feel like TikTok just <\/b>gets<\/i><\/b> you<\/b>. A feed full of tailored videos might sound harmless, but TikTok\u2019s pull can be difficult to resist, and it has some serious safety risks that go deeper than viral songs or <\/span>\u201cget-ready-with-me\u201d videos<\/span><\/a> – particularly for teens.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TikTok\u2019s FYP (For You Page) uses an algorithm to serve videos in your child\u2019s feed – the more they engage with particular topics, such as by commenting, liking, sharing, or even just spending a little longer on the video, the more their feed gets to know them and serves them content designed to keep them engaged. <\/span>The feed is bottomless, meaning they can scroll until boredom wins out – <\/b>though endless scrolls often get used as an \u201cantidote\u201d to their boredom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alongside the feed, teens can:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Direct messaging” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TikTok\u2019s direct messaging system is non-existent for under 16s, and 16-17 year-olds have default limitations set – they can only message \u201cfriends\u201d (people they follow, who follow them back) unless you select \u201cDon\u2019t receive\u201d in TikTok\u2019s Family Pairing feature. For older teens, though, TikTok’s <\/span>direct messaging<\/span><\/a> feature presents a significant risk for inappropriate message exchanges – think <\/span>sexting<\/span><\/a>, photo sharing, or anonymous contact. TikTok friends don\u2019t necessarily mean real-life friends – as all your child needs to do to connect via DM is to follow a user, and gain them as a follower. With this connection, a stranger and your child can directly contact each other, potentially leading to inappropriate conversations and attempts to arrange meetups.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Combined with the potential for anonymous accounts and public profiles, the DM feature makes <\/span>online predators<\/span><\/a> a significant risk on TikTok. These individuals can use the messaging feature to groom victims, build trust, and eventually attempt to arrange in-person meetings or solicit explicit content.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Adult concepts” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n While going against TikTok\u2019s community guidelines, and despite moderation, inappropriate videos can still show up in the feed, or while teens view TikTok Live. Content circulating on TikTok can include sexually suggestive themes, strong language, discussions of sensitive topics like drug use or self-harm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Because TikTok uses an algorithm, the more your child engages with this type of content, the more these topics are likely to be shown in their feed – and this type of content can easily be shown on your child\u2019s FYP without them even searching for it. For a fair number of <\/span>OnlyFans<\/span><\/a> workers, TikTok acts as a place where they can promote their personalities and accounts to attract new users, potentially exposing younger scrollers to sexually suggestive material without them actively looking for it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n TikTok users are fully aware of the app\u2019s limitations and content guidelines, too. To get around moderation and to stop videos or comments from being deleted, TikTok users often use coded language, or alternative spellings (often termed as \u201calgospeak\u201d to get around the algorithm: think \u201ccorn\u201d or the corn emoji ? instead of \u201cporn\u201d, or \u201cunalive\u201d instead of \u201ckill\/suicide\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Misinformation and deception” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n One positive thing about TikTok is that it allows us to see different perspectives and experiences from all over the world – but this can also be a negative, too. TikTok is full of misleading content<\/a>, including false information, manipulated videos, and staged events or events taken completely out of context. With AI, it\u2019s become even easier for creators to upload and spread misinformation and propaganda, promote conspiracy theories, or produce \u201crage bait\u201d videos, gaining them views and followers no matter the cost.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Online anonymity also means it\u2019s easy for bad actors to create accounts misrepresenting who they are, creating opportunities for deception. People looking to <\/span>troll or bully others<\/span><\/a>, scammers, and predators can easily create a fake profile on TikTok, forging connections and exploiting young people\u2019s trust to manipulate, extort, or abuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Influencer culture” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If your teen is actively uploading content on TikTok, posting videos and chasing likes can be a source of anxiety and comparison. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in creating the picture-perfect look, or wanting to seem like they\u2019re doing better than others or have more than they do. Even if your child isn\u2019t actively posting on TikTok or social media at all, social media is more than just fun videos and entertainment – it\u2019s advertising, and teens can be easily influenced by trends they see across their feed. Pressure to have the latest \u201cmust-have\u201d item is nothing new, but social media fuels our fear of missing out, and drives trends faster, meaning it can be hard for kids (and their money – or <\/span>yours<\/span><\/i>) to keep up with what\u2019s cool.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_toggle title=”Violence” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Although TikTok attempts to <\/span>moderate violent content<\/span><\/a>, and the platform’s <\/span>Community Guidelines<\/span><\/a> outline the type of content users can post, videos depicting fights, dangerous stunts, violent extremism, death, and self-harm still appear in feeds and filter through the cracks, highlighting the limitations of TikTok’s AI filters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Viral challenges are often a far cry away from a cute dance to copy – a number of them promote harmful behaviors (with the platform’s algorithm often increasing their popularity) and the risk of young people being exposed to or attempting often dangerous trends is a significant concern, especially as social media content moves at such a fast pace that it\u2019s hard for parents to <\/span>keep up with the latest online trends and viral TikTok challenges<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Bullying and doxxing” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Unless the creator turns their comments off on a video, or restricts who can message them, DMs and comment sections can easily be used to bully and harass others. Because TikTok is so open in nature – anyone can create an account and create content of their own, which can find its way into anyone\u2019s algorithm – users can watch and comment from anywhere in the world, meaning comment sections can quickly turn nasty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unless turned off, TikTok also allows other users to \u201cstitch\u201d videos. This lets you take someone\u2019s video and react to it, inserting commentary or an original take on the content. While this can be a fun way to create new content from an existing video, it has the potential to be used in a negative or harmful way, triggering verbal abuse or hate towards the original creator, or spreading rumors from clips shown without context. Online users can quickly turn against brands or creators after a negative reaction to their opinion or content, sometimes leading to a witch hunt for information – like home address, job or position, or sensitive data, which can be revealed online (otherwise known as <\/span>doxxing<\/span><\/a>).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Endless scroll” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TikTok is designed to engage – keeping users on the platform for longer, offering up more advertising opportunities. The endless scroll format can be very difficult for both kids and adults to tear themselves away from, leading to excessive screen time. It\u2019s easy to be sucked into a stream of short videos without realizing how long you\u2019re really spending on the app. For younger users, TikTok offers <\/span>in-app screen time management tools<\/span><\/a> that allow users to set daily limits and take a break.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Privacy and data concerns” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n TikTok has been criticized for how it collects and handles user data, particularly in the US, where concerns about privacy and where data is stored triggered a law <\/span>forcing TikTok\u2019s sale to a US company<\/span><\/a>. Like most social media, however, no matter where and how data is collected, it\u2019s stored somewhere, giving rise to worries about privacy and the impact on younger users\u2019 digital footprint. TikTok collects personal information, like date of birth and contact details, along with data showing how each user explores the app, such as likes, comments, and search history. It also collects more technical information, like location, IP address, and what kind of device your child is accessing from. <\/span>This data may be shared with third parties, increasing privacy and security risks.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/static.qustodio.com\/public-site\/uploads\/2020\/06\/23082353\/2025-08-Blog-Update-TikTok-safety-guide_InsideImage.png” alt=”Happy teens looking at phones together ” title_text=”2025-08-%91Blog%93-Update-TikTok-safety-guide_InsideImage” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n If your child uses TikTok, or wants to create an account, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risks:<\/span><\/p>\n 1. Establish clear rules and guidelines<\/b><\/p>\n Use a <\/span>family tech agreement<\/span><\/a> to outline rules for how your child uses technology and social media, making sure you align on how they\u2019ll navigate screen time, online interactions, privacy settings, and in-app purchases. Talk to them about appropriate online behavior, <\/span>how to handle negativity on social media<\/span><\/a>, and who they can come to if they see anything that worries them online.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 2. Use parental controls and safety features<\/b><\/p>\n Use TikTok\u2019s Family Pairing feature to link your account with your teen\u2019s, which will allow you to manage screen time, restrict content, control who DMs them (if at all), and more. While Family Pairing allows you to enable or disable DM features, it won\u2019t alert you to any concerning messages. <\/span>Qustodio\u2019s Social monitoring feature lets you know if your child receives any worrying messages in their TikTok DMs<\/b>, from sexual content to bullying behavior, keeping you in the loop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 3. Protect personal information and privacy<\/b><\/p>\n Teach your teen the importance of protecting their personal information. <\/span>Emphasize that they should never share details like their real name, age, location, address, or school details<\/b> in their TikTok profile or videos. Discuss <\/span>the risks associated with posting online<\/span><\/a>, and linking external accounts, such as other social media platforms. Ensure your teen\u2019s account is set to Private to limit who can see their content and who can contact them.<\/span><\/p>\n 4. Address online spending\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Discuss the risks associated with in-app purchases, <\/span>what scams can look like on social media<\/span><\/a>, and how to keep payment details safe. Explain how influencers promote products and encourage impulse purchases. <\/span>Set clear guidelines for spending and consider limiting or disabling in-app purchases<\/b> on your teen’s device.<\/span><\/p>\n 5. Understand TikTok and the content your child sees on it<\/b><\/p>\n Familiarize yourself with TikTok’s features and functions, and what the algorithm might offer up by searching for or engaging with topics your child is interested in. <\/span>Talk to your teen about the types of content they like watching and any concerns you may have about specific trends <\/b>or creators. While it can be tough to keep up with trends, talking to your teen about what they\u2019ve seen online or what they\u2019re seeing their friends do can help you understand what might pose a risk to your child, and what\u2019s safe.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 6. Encourage balanced use<\/b><\/p>\n Set clear limits for TikTok use (and social media use in general). Wellbeing tools like Qustodio can help limit daily screen time or <\/span>build routines that encourage disconnection<\/span><\/a>, blocking access to the TikTok app entirely or your child\u2019s device, so they get to balance the best of both worlds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As conversations around social media safety continue to be a hot topic for debate, we know these platforms – TikTok included – play a huge role in how teens now socialize and experience the world. <\/span>Social media can be an outlet for creativity and connection, but not without risk. <\/b>By staying informed, introducing social media in an age-appropriate way, setting clear boundaries, and engaging with your child, you can help them set up positive social media habits that will stick with them as they grow.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you\u2019ve never scrolled TikTok, it\u2019s easy to write it off as a space for silly dance routines and lip syncs. But TikTok, one of the world\u2019s most popular social apps, has completely changed the face of social media, shifting it from a way to connect with friends and family to a global experience.\u00a0 TikTok […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":93812,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"What can teens do on TikTok? <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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TikTok: the risks parents need to know<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Making TikTok safer for teens<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What parents need to know about TikTok to keep their kids safe on the world\u2019s most downloaded social media app.<\/h2>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
Qustodio\u2019s Safety Guide to TikTok<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
What is TikTok, and why do kids love it so much?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTikTok (previously musical.ly in the U.S.) is a free \u201cdestination for short-form mobile videos.\u201d You can think of it as YouTube meets Twitter meets Instagram in that the videos have length limits (15 second clips that can be linked together up to 60 seconds) and that creators have access to filters and effects and a music library (check out the Common Sense Media What is TikTok video<\/a>). Kids like TikTok because they report feeling more free to be silly and authentic on the platform, whereas Instagram is more of a place where you have to be and look perfect. There is also the pull of instant stardom which has happened to a few TikTok-ers who gained internet fame on the app.\r\n\r\nTikTok is one of the first social media platforms born \u2018mobile-first\u2019, not adapted to mobile from a desktop environment. This is an important detail because it means being easy for mobile natives to create and watch videos is part of its DNA, and part of what helped propel TikTok to becoming the most downloaded non-gaming app in the world. Mobile-first also means that TikTok is a place where most kids\u2019 parents are not hanging out - yet.\r\n
Is TikTok safe?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nTikTok shares the same problems as just about every social media app in the universe - data collection issues (the company was fined by the Federal Trade Commission for illegally collecting data from its underage users), online predators or groomers, and the spread of misinformation. TikTok is also under fire for the effects of harmful memes<\/a> such as the Skull-breaker Challenge, the Outlet Challenge, the Fire Challenge and the Choking Challenge to name just a few.\r\n\r\nSome other things to look out for on TikTok: Many videos include swearing and sexual lyrics, as well as suggestive clothing or dancing that might not be appropriate for your kids or match your family\u2019s values. Also beware that your kids can spend real money on TikTok by adding virtual coins to the app\u2019s point system.\r\n\r\nSome parents are also concerned that TikTok is owned by the Chinese internet conglomerate ByteDance<\/a> and that their children\u2019s data might be sent to a \u2018hostile\u2019 government. TikTok insists they have not and would not share data with the Chinese government.\r\n
What can I do to make TikTok safer for my kids?<\/strong><\/h3>\r\nMost of what happens on TikTok, like most of what happens on the internet, is harmless. The problem is that even just one bad experience - a glimpse of extreme violence, a chat with an online predator, or identity theft - can have a very long lasting, harmful psychological effect on a child or teen who might not have the mental maturity or resilience to deal with it. So while these tips are designed to protect your child on TikTok, TikTok is not unique. Parents need to be aware of the dangers associated with any app their child uses.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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More great online digital parenting articles from Qustodio<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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Where to get Qustodio<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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