Over the last couple of years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are spending an increased amount of time online. Especially during forced isolation, more people have been turning to social media to keep up with friends, connect with people, and gain a sense of community. There's no doubt about it: as social media usage has grown, TikTok has become one of the most popular apps and social media platforms today.

TikTok is a platform on which users create and share short videos and can even respond to other users' videos directly with their own video content. But who uses TikTok? Well, the social media platform particularly caught on with Gen Z—but its popularity is growing, and its audience is becoming more varied. According to Backlinko, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users and was the most downloaded non-game app in the first 6 months of 2021, hitting 383 million installs from January to June 2021 alone.

As Tik Tok has skyrocketed, so has the growing concerns about the safety of the app. TikTok is an app developed in China (now with shared ownership between the U.S. and Chinese owners), and in 2020, fears arose that potential malicious people were using the app as spyware, gathering information about users across the globe (especially U.S users).

While most of those fears have been debunked and TikTok is still an app that is as popular as ever, people should consider security when they use the app—and they should also speak to their children about how to use the app as safely as possible.

Security risks still abound when using TikTok, just as they do with any other social media platform. If you use TikTok regularly or you have kids that love to use TikTok, keep reading this blog article. We have put together 10 security tips for you as an adult user and 10 security tips for your kids, so you can ensure that everyone stays safe while using this popular app.

TikTok Security Tips For You As An Adult User

• Make your TikTok account private: All TikTok users have the option to make their account private. This means the content you post on the account is only visible to people who you connect with on the platform. By making your account private, you can ensure that none of your TikTok videos are seen by people you don't know.
• Use a strong password: Use a strong password for your TikTok account. Make sure it's not a password you use for any other account. This will ensure that if your TikTok account password gets stolen, no other accounts are compromised. Need help creating a strong password for TikTok? We have the perfect thing for you, here are our top tips and advice for creating strong passwords for every account, especially TikTok.
• Don't let people download your videos: There's a feature in the TikTok app that stops other users downloading the videos you share on your channel. Turn on this feature so you don't have to worry about who downloads and saves your videos, giving you control over how people will use the content you create and share online, it ensures no one uses your content, image, or identity in a way you wouldn't want it to be used.
• Limit comments: Cyberbullying is a huge issue globally, and it can affect anyone, no matter your age. If you disable comments on your video, you can ensure that no one takes the opportunity to use your platform to say unkind and judgemental things to you or anyone else.
• Use Login with Two Factor Authentication: Enable verification in your TikTok account login process by adding your phone number. Then, TikTok will create a one-time-use password every time you login. Using a two-step process to login to TikTok (and any app, for that matter), minimises the risk of someone hacking your account.
• Only allow friends to send messages: Don't accept messages from strangers on TikTok. If you do receive a message from a stranger from TikTok, the stranger may simply want to connect—or they may be looking for information. If you only accept messages from friends on the app, you can ensure that everyone who sends you a message has good intentions, and you won't need to worry about who you respond to or don't respond to.
• Don't suggest your account to others: In the privacy features of TikTok, you can choose whether you want your account to be suggested to others. You can also choose to limit your account so it's only searchable for people you're already connected with. To do this, just turn off "Suggest Your Account to Others." This will keep your account from being featured by TikTok, attracting users you don't know. It will also stop your TikTok account from coming up in search engine results.
• Use mobile antivirus: TikTok has, in the past, released new software that has severe security vulnerabilities in it. While they eventually sorted these problems, there was some time when the app could be used by others - to access your devices, accounts, information, and more. So, make sure you have mobile antivirus security that is regularly working to scan your devices and detect if any malware, spyware, viruses, etc can be detected. By using mobile antivirus software (in addition to the antivirus software you use on your PC), you can make sure you catch any threats quickly, before they do any real damage to your digital devices.
• Take Advantage of the Digital Wellbeing feature: Built into the TikTok app is a "digital wellbeing" setting. This will help you manage your screen time, so you don't spend too much time on the app. Not only is spending too much time on screens bad for your eyes and can have an effect on your brain and sleeping, but the longer that you spend on the app, the more tired and less diligent you can become, and the less aware you are, the more vulnerable you are to the threats online.
• Stay away from links: Cybercriminals might share a link with you in a message that looks to be a TikTok app but isn't actually TikTok. This can lead to you downloading a trojan version of the app or harmful spyware onto your computer. Do not click on an unfamiliar link from a stranger, and when you think you're actually getting a link from a friend that is a TikTok link or a link from TikTok itself, double -check to make sure that it is actually a real link and not an imposter.

TikTok Security Tips for Your Family & Kids

• Make sure your child's account is private: On the discoverability page of your child's TikTok account, make sure you set the page to private. This ensures that anyone who doesn't know your child won't be able to see their content. 
• Set time limits for your kid's TikTok usage: The "Digital Wellbeing" feature can also be a great tool to help you keep your child safe on TikTok. Limit the time they can use their account by harnessing the Digital Wellbeing tool. Simply go to Digital Wellbeing, then screen time management. You can set two hours maximum on the app per day, so it won't work once they have used it for up to two hours.
• Use restricted mode: Set your child's TikTok app to restricted mode. This handy feature blocks mature content, so your child won't accidentally stumble upon something that is too graphically violent or sexual for them to see. Bonus tip: lock this setting with your own passcode so your child can't go in and change it.
• Set up family pairing: With family pairing, all of your family's accounts can be linked. This gives you the ability to control their settings as well as manage their usage of the app. With family pairing, you can see who your kids are connected with and communicating with on the app. You can also manage and see the content they're viewing to make sure they're only viewing videos and profiles that are appropriate for them.
• Explore the app together: Spend time on TikTok together. If you're concerned about security and privacy issues, you can make TikTok something your family uses as a group or in pairs, not alone. By using TikTok together, you can help your child learn how to use the platform safely, and you can also make sure that no one is trying to threaten or harm your child while they are using the Internet or their mobile device.
• Teach your child how to report users: Teach your child how to report a user who does something inappropriate or considered "bullying" on TikTok. Teach them how to click "Report a Problem," which lets TikTok know about the issue. By reporting a problem, your child can let the appropriate authorities know that they should take action against a user that is consider dangerous. Also, tell your child to let you know if this happens, so you can be sure they are safe or can voice anything threatening or worrying to them.
• Talk about what is safe to share on TikTok: Before your child starts using TikTok or the internet in general, talk to them about what is appropriate to share. Remind them to never give out identifying or private information (i.e. full name, address, date of birth, school address etc). Also, remind them to keep their content appropriate. You can remind them that content posted on the Internet can live forever—even if they are deleted. So you want to ensure that they never post anything they’ll regret sharing with an online community.
• Speak with them about the dangers of connecting with strangers on the Internet: Teach your kids to only connect with friends and family on TikTok. Remind them that it is easy for someone to be dishonest over the Internet. Even though a person may appear one way in videos and pictures, that doesn't mean it's actually them in real life. Dissuade them from connecting and communicating with strangers online, especially on a platform like TikTok. This minimises the risk of them connecting with someone who is out to harm young, impressionable people.
• Warn them about connecting with people from TikTok on other platforms: If your child has made a "friend" or found another user they connect with on TikTok, encourage them to keep the connection only on that app. You don't want your child to move their communication to another app that you cannot monitor. You also don't want your child making plans to meet a stranger in real life, since it's impossible to know who that person might really be. If your child has found a content creator on TikTok they really like, encourage them to keep watching the videos on the platform—and even watch the videos together. 
• Make yourself an ally: There are many security risks that your child can encounter using TikTok, or any other app that they can access on their mobile phone. While you can take the necessary steps like installing antivirus protection, limiting screen time, filtering inappropriate content, and monitoring their usage, there are always going to be things that can slip through the cracks. The best way to keep your child safe is by being their ally. Let them know that you are only there to protect them and keep them safe. Also ensure they know they can come to you with any worries or concerns that come up for them when using TikTok. Remind them that they won't get in trouble for anything they do or become afraid of—you are only there to support or help them get out of a dangerous situation should they encounter one.

Final thoughts

TikTok is one of the most popular social media platforms today. It’s a fan favourite for all things video content – with trending dances and influencers growing their channels on the app, people of all ages are loving TikTok. But make sure you and your family are as safe as possible on it. Take into account all the points mentioned above and take the appropriate precautions (sooner rather than later). For any more advice on TikTok security, contact us today.