Is TikTok safe???

Is TikTok safe? That was the topic on Panorama this evening.

It focused on the safety of under 18s on the app which is a fair question that can be asked of any website or social media platform. For Gen Xers it's a popular thing to replicate dance moves and mime the words of songs - a lot of these songs are verbally and sexually explicit which I'm sure many adults would feel is just inappropriate.

Like most social media the minimum age to sign up is 13, but studies have shown almost half of 8-12 year olds in the UK are using the app. There are settings for parents to connect their account to their children's to have oversight on what they are doing on the app, yet many either don't know this is possible or choose to trust their children aren't watching or doing anything inappropriate.

The algorithm will put videos into your feed that it sees you engaging with. For example, if you are watching a video about cats in full and liking or commenting, then you will see more videos about cats. In the same way, if you are watching and engaging with more explicit material, then you will be shown more of the same.

I don't see any of this type of content in my own feed as the algorithm has learned what I'm interested in and not interested in seeing, however for many young people they will be interested in seeing things they know their parents wouldn't be happy about them seeing, or that their peers are watching. It's harder for younger people to recognise the dangers and risks of their interactions online, especially when it's so easily available.

The Dark Web can be found on every social media platform if you looked - I hope you won't.

This is not me saying you should avoid TikTok, but that for everything we do online to be mindful of whether what we are doing is

👉 True

👉 Helpful

👉 Inspiring

👉 Necessary

👉 Kind

As well as all that to be teaching younger generations to do the same, and sometimes that means removing them from having access to certain places online.