TikTok Launches New Parental Controls to Protect Children

TikTok has introduced a new feature that empowers parents and guardians to control the content their children can view on the platform.

This addition is part of TikTok’s family pairing functionality, enabling adults to connect their accounts with their teenagers’ accounts. By doing so, parents can manage various settings, including screen time limits.

With this new update, parents and guardians can filter out specific videos they deem inappropriate or unsuitable for their children. This feature gives them greater control over the content their kids are exposed to while using TikTok.

Tiktok content filters

TikTok already allowed users to set up content filters, which helped them avoid videos associated with certain words or hashtags. Julie de Bailliencourt, the global head of product policy, explained that introducing this feature for parents was primarily focused on ensuring user safety.

Initially, only teenagers will be notified about the filters set up by their parents, and they can choose not to opt in if they wish to do so.

Ms. De Bailliencourt stated, “We wanted to make sure we had the right balance of pragmatism and transparency to enable families to choose the best experience for their own family because every family is different.”

She further emphasized, “We also wanted to make sure we respect young people’s right to participate. So by default, teens can view the keywords their parent or caregiver has added.”

Criticism over the content quality

This development follows the company’s scrutiny for allowing children to come across content related to self-harm and eating disorders. Such content often uses “coded” hashtags, slightly modified versions of phrases, to evade the platform’s moderation.

Ms. De Bailliencourt expressed her desire for this feature to initiate discussions between teenagers and their parents or guardians regarding online boundaries.

TikTok’s take on the Online Security Bill

TikTok has committed to prioritizing online safety by introducing this optional feature. This development aligns with the imminent implementation of the Online Safety Bill, which has undergone thorough examination by a House of Lords committee in the UK.

Recently, a late amendment was proposed for the legislation. This amendment aims to regulate online content to ensure the safety of individuals. If approved, it could grant coroners and bereaved parents access to data from the phones of deceased children.

The amendment was prompted by a campaign led by parents who believed their children’s social media activities were connected to their untimely deaths.

While TikTok did not provide specific details about the amendment, the platform emphasized its close collaboration with the UK government in developing the legislation. It is actively working towards aligning its practices with the proposed regulations.

Lack of trust in TikTok’s algorithms

TikTok has faced growing scrutiny due to its ties to China, as Beijing’s ByteDance owns it. Earlier this year, the platform was banned from UK government phones due to security and data privacy concerns.

As the Online Safety Bill progresses and TikTok engages in ongoing cooperation with the government, the platform aims to address concerns and reinforce its commitment to providing a safe online environment for its users.