So, let’s talk about TikTok… You know it, you might use it and you may love it. Its popularity soared during the pandemic, absorbing and luring consumers with addictive, entertaining short videos. It was holding on to the giddy heights of being ‘the in app’ – until recently when it fell from grace over security issues. But it doesn’t stop there. If we take a step back from the seemingly innocent content, there is rather worrying negative impact the app is having on our society – and no, we don’t mean Mr Musk. Let’s explain.
The popularity of TikTok
TikTok is renowned for its “for you” page, which enables us to view content that is influenced by our interests, hobbies, lifestyle and desires. This is based on information gathered by the app on what you view. TikTok then tempts you with videos that should appeal to you.
According to Statista, in 2022 TikTok was the most downloaded mobile app worldwide, with 672 million downloads. There is no doubt that itp is extremely popular and successful, but have you given any thought about where and how the app calculates which videos you will want to view?
TikTok’s ‘misdemeanor’
It’s all done via the TikTok algorithm – much like search engine algorithms – the only difference is that TikTok’s has recently been in news headlines for collecting an ‘excessive’ amount of data. This has become a main concern for world leaders in government, because there is risk that the app could be used to harness sensitive or confidential information and use it for other not-so-good causes, or even sell user information to the highest bidder.
When you add in the fact that TikTok was recently fined £12.7m by the UK’s data watchdog for failing to protect the privacy of children, you start to wonder if this particular app is (a) safe to have on your mobile devices and (b) safe for your children to use.
The BBC estimates that TikTok allowed up to 1.4 million children in the UK, aged 13 and under, to join the platform in 2020. Data was also being used to track and profile these young consumers. Therefore, parents in the UK are being urged to keep a close view on their children’s digital devices as watching unregulated content could expose them to material that could be a potential threat and have a negative effect on their child; or lead to worse.
The bad side of TikTok
So, besides the obvious security issues, what else could we be exposing ourselves and our children to when using TikTok? Although TikTok’s community guidelines prohibit nudity, drug use and violence, this doesn’t reflect the fact that there are videos posted encouraging eating disorders, promoting alcohol consumption and other adult oriented content. Therefore, without sufficient regulations, we are rendering not only ourselves, but our children, too, to potential risks.
With the short span of each video clip we are presented with, it is important to remember that each clip is manmade and can be edited. Therefore, it could be anything from a comedy clip to a celebrity make-up tutorial. The point is that on many occasions, we are presented with an unrealistic and glamorised reel of someone else that entices the young to imitate.
As innocent as it seems, this is also very damaging! It feeds a false impression of reality, leading viewers to compare their lives with others; the difference is that unlike other social media platforms, TikTok has become more obvious in their activity. Comparison is one of the biggest negative effects, and consequently, can have an impact on mental health, productivity and lifestyle. Should we really be allowing children to fall victim to this, too?
Tips on how to use TikTok safely
Perhaps deleting TikTok from mobile devices feels unnecessary, but how can we stay safe whilst using this app? More importantly, how can we stop children being exposed to inappropriate content? Here are our top tips.
1. Adjust your privacy settings – check your privacy settings. Making sure your account is marked as private is a must so you can control who views your posts.
2. Regulate and manage comments/followers – make it a habit to review and regulate your comments, as well as your followers. This protects the privacy of your account. For children, managing the control of comments reduces bullying and harassment.
3. Set limits – it is vital to set limits on when and how long TikTok can be used. This not only protects your productivity – it is proven that TikTok, or any of the social media platforms can waste time – but also allows your child to feel safe and secure.
4. Communication – communicating any issues with social media is key. If you are struggling with social media, is it important to communicate this. It is also essential to talk to your children about this so they feel they can come to you if they are experiencing any problems on social media.Ultimately, it is your decision whether you choose to allow yourself or your child to use TikTok. If you’re not sure about TikTok, or any other social media platform, and how to keep your data safe, it is important to talk about this. The Really Helpful Club’s Directory members are always here to help you understand the ins-and-outs of social media, with valuable advice and guidelines about best practice to protect you and your family online.
