• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

Education

TikTok ‘family safety mode’ gives parents some app control

TikTok ‘family safety mode’ gives parents some app control
Newsexplored
19th February 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
5
Youths act in front of a mobile phone camera while making a TikTok video on the terrace of their residence in Hyderabad, February 2020Image copyright AFP

TikTok is introducing a new “family safety mode” designed to give parents tighter control over teens’ mobile phone habits.

It will let parents link their own TikTok accounts to their child’s – and turn features on and off remotely.

That includes a “restricted mode” that tries to filter out inappropriate content, and turning off messaging.

TikTok has an age limit of 13, but many pre-teens still use the Chinese-owned app.

A recent survey by UK media regulator Ofcom found that TikTok was used by 13% of all children aged 12-15 in 2019 – up from 8% the year before.

What does the new feature do?

Parents and guardians who have their own TikTok accounts – or create one for this purpose – can link their account to their child’s, to have direct control over the safety settings.

The adults must open the app on both phones, head to the “digital wellbeing” settings, and identify which phone belongs to them, and which to the child.

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Media captionWATCH: What is TikTok?

Scanning a QR code from one phone with the other links the accounts, and lets the parent password-protect certain features.

data-ad-format="auto">

That means the adult’s phone can now turn on and off the setting for:

  • restricted mode, an automatic filter, driven by an algorithm, which tries to hide content that may be inappropriate
  • messages, which can be limited so they can only be received from friends – or turned off completely
  • screen time controls, putting a hard limit on how long the app can be used each day

These safety features have been on the TikTok platform for some time, but needed to be set on the teenager’s phone manually, and locked behind a password that had to be reset every 30 days.

Why release parental controls?

TikTok is hugely popular among young people, and it was recently announced that half of all 10-year-olds own a smartphone.

Stephen Balkam of the Family Online Safety Institute – a charity of which TikTok is a member – says parents having their own TikTok accounts could be a good thing.

One of the charity’s steps to “good digital parenting” is to “get involved and go online with your kids, and create things together”.


“We see this as a step forward for TikTok,” he said.

But John Carr, secretary of the UK-based Children’s Charities’ Coalition on Internet Safety, said: “I’m afraid any parents who engage with the app and let their children go on it either didn’t actually look at the app first or they have some strange ideas about what is appropriate for youngsters.”

“I spent a lot of time on TikTok recently. The simple truth is it is no place for youngsters of 13 – their declared minimum age.”.

And without age verification, it was “100% certain” under-13s were also on the app.

A BBC investigation last year found that children and teenagers were being pressured to buy items with real money for TikTok celebrities – in exchange for phone numbers and private messages. The app made that feature an adults-only function in the wake of the report.

“What we’re seeing is a maturation of this app that has come from nowhere in the past 18 months,” Mr Balkam said.

“They’re playing catch-up to where they are, as one of the most prominent apps in our kids’ lives.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscontrolfamilygivesparentssafetytiktok
Education
19th February 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscontrolfamilygivesparentssafetytiktok

More in Education

  • Read More
    Covid-19: Last day of home-school is ‘end of an era’

    Views:5 By Kate ScotterBBC News, East image copyrightFamily photo image captionKatrin’s children Ada, Hazel and Remy are...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Wales plans wider school return from 15 March

    Views:5 Published 15 minutes ago Related Topics media captionCase rates and positivity rates are two of the...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Wales’ school return could start after half-term

    Views:5 image copyrightGetty Images image captionSchooling has moved to the home for most children since the start...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    What’s the science behind closing schools?

    Views:5 By Will FyfeBBC News media captionDr Heather Payne says school drop off and pick-ups created “social...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Cancelled exams are a ‘big disappointment’

    Views:5 image captionJake did not want exams to be cancelled “It’s a big disappointment,” says 17-year-old Jake...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Hawaiian shirts and gravy: Christmas tributes for loved ones lost to Covid

    Views:5 Christmas is different for everyone this year but especially for the thousands of UK families who...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    England ‘significant decline’ in global science tests

    Views:5 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightTIMSS image captionThe maths and science tests...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Some students not back until February next term

    Views:5 By Sean CoughlanBBC News family and education correspondent image copyrightReuters image captionStudents have been taking Covid...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: How might GCSE and A-levels work this summer?

    Views:5 By Branwen JeffreysEducation Editor image copyrightGetty Images A-levels and GCSEs in England are due to go...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Special educational needs support ‘offered after exclusion’

    Views:5 By Kayleen DevlinBBC Ouch image copyrightEmily image captionEmily says she feels let down by the system...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Free school meals: Authors urge government action to stop child hunger

    Views:5 media captionMarcus Rashford and his mother Melanie helped out at FareShare Greater Manchester. More than 200...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Student anger over ‘junk’ food parcels in isolation

    Views:5 Image caption A student isolating in Nottingham was given bread, jam and an apple for breakfast...

    Newsexplored 19th February 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Transfer rumours: Kounde, Haaland, Bremer, Neuhaus, Balogun, Ziyech, Raphinha
    Sports13th February 2021
  • Station reopening at Bow Street brings first trains for 56 years
    UK14th February 2021
  • Manchester United 3-3 Everton: Dominic Calvert-Lewin scores late goal to deny hosts
    Sports6th February 2021
  • Super Bowl half-time show: How did The Weeknd do?
    Entertainment8th February 2021
  • George Floyd trial: Why is it so important?
    USA7th March 2021
  • LeBron James: NBA superstar’s evolution from high school prodigy
    USA4th March 2021
  • What is Biden doing differently at US border?
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Coronavirus: Texas and other states ease rules despite warnings
    USA3rd March 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Six charged over Cambridge Uni climate protests
Students hit by 14-day university lecturers strike
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok