Protect your children on TikTok! The app now offers parental controls

A new option of TikTok allows parents to more effectively control the content to which their children are exposed.

TikTok announced in a blog post that its system for linking multiple accounts from the same family would receive new features. The social network was under fire from critics, in particular for its policy of moderation considered by some to be insufficient, even ineffective.

TikTok, the permanent clean hands operation

TikTok has been navigating from lawsuits to bans to controversies for a while now. The main concern that the video platform raises, especially in the United States, is of course its real or supposed affiliation with the Chinese regime, the main argument behind its ban in certain states and its regulation for federal officials. But its addictive capacity is not left out either, as is its moderation, which sometimes allows shocking or dangerous content to pass.

Faced with the very real threat of a ban on the service, already in place in some places, TikTok’s public relations have been in permanent hands-on operation for several years now. The network thus promotes its transparency and its independence from Beijing before the American Congress on the one hand, but also develops means to strengthen the protection of its young users.

How does parental control work?

Already in 2019, TikTok had received a first warning shot, in the form of a fine of more than 5 million dollars for not having respected the law regarding the personal data of children. Criticized at the same time for the vulnerability of its young users to predators, the platform then reacted by launching the “Family Connection” mode. This allows parents to link their account to that of their children and to control certain aspects such as daily usage time, the possibility or not of receiving messages, or the activation of the “restricted content” mode. “, supposed to present only content suitable for children, identified as such by the TikTok algorithm.

This mode, far from giving full satisfaction despite the recent update of the network’s community rules, is reinforced by the new feature announced on Tuesday: the possibility offered to parents to hide all videos containing keywords or hashtags that they deem inappropriate. TikTok announces in the same press release the creation of a “Global Youth Council”, intended to ” listen to the experiences of those who directly use [la] platform for […] create the healthiest experience possible for [la] community “.

While giving parents more control over the content their kids can see sounds like a good idea, it still means they spot trends before they do. Not very believable.

Sources: TechCrunch, Engadget, TikTok