Since TikTok Security measures are quite comprehensive, using the app is secure for your device, and even payment methods are primarily protected. However, there are quite a few causes of concern about the app.
A proposal to ban TikTok in the U.S. has garnered bipartisan support and raised bigger questions about data access laws. The FBI and U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigation into TikTok on March 17, 2023, including allegations that the company spied on American journalists.
Over 150 Americans use TikTok. Is TikTok safe? It's as safe as just about any other social media platform. It doesn't infect your phone with malware, but it comes with some safety risks like scams and saved user data.
TikTok can be a kid-friendly experience if you supervise your kids, use safety settings, and stick to songs you already know. But TikTok's emphasis on popular music means many videos include swearing and sexual lyrics, so it may not be age-appropriate for kids to use on their own.
“We are a global company,” Mr Hunter said. “For Australians, the user data is held in the US and Singapore with strong cyber security to make sure the data is safe. “There are lot of misperceptions around what happens on TikTok, but Australians are safe on TikTok.”
The danger TikTok poses to Australia is that the means would exist for foreign intelligence agencies to track the location of government officials, build dossiers of personal information, and conduct espionage.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS ABOUT TIKTOK? Both the FBI and officials at the Federal Communications Commission have warned that ByteDance could share TikTok user data — such as browsing history, location and biometric identifiers — with China's authoritarian government.
Parents can learn to trust that their kids are using TikTok under the conditions they've agreed upon, and kids can learn responsibility when it comes to social media privileges. Using TikTok can also create teachable moments and foster conversations about important topics that may not come up organically otherwise.
Jean Twenge, our nation's leading researcher on how social media impacts child and adolescent development, recommends that no child under 13 should be on any social media, including TikTok. And I would add that many 13-year-olds aren't ready. TikTok offers a curated version of their app for under-13s. Don't use it.
According to the TikTok's own privacy policy, the app collects the names of users, passwords, phone numbers, private messages on the app, the mobile networks used by its users, their contacts, satellite location information, and payment details such as credit card information.
It's normal for TikTok to ask you to verify your age, as there are different rules and features available on the site for different ages. In October 2022, the app announced they would be raising the minimum age requirement to host a live from 16 to 18.
Fact: TikTok's parent company ByteDance Ltd. was founded by Chinese entrepreneurs, but today, roughly sixty percent of the company is beneficially owned by global institutional investors such as Carlyle Group, General Atlantic, and Susquehanna International Group.
Analysts expect the number of TikTok users in the US to continue rising for at least two more years. In 2024, this is set to grow by 3.2% and surpass the 100 million mark for the first time. An annual increase of 2.6% is forecast for 2025, which will bring the total number of US TikTok users to 103.3 million.
TikTok is not considered safe for children and must never be used without parental supervision. According to the app's conditions, the minimum age for using the app is 13 years. Using this app may lead to risks such as connecting with strangers, participating in dangerous challenges, and sharing personal data.
Because TikTok uses algorithms to show users new content, it's easy for young people to come across inappropriate or upsetting videos. The platform also has communication features that allow users to privately message each other which could put your child at risk of being contacted by someone they don't know.
1 ENABLE device-level parental controls
TikTok states that the app is intended for users aged 13 years and over and has a 12+ App Store rating.
Zigazoo, the startup known for its TikTok-style video-sharing app for kids, is launching a separate app targeted at Gen Z users.
“Ten to 12 is a great range because kids are still very connected to their parents and into their parents being in their phone and in their business,” says Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of “First Phone,” a guide for kids.
How do kids use TikTok? “TIkTok is a popular way for teens to share videos. Each video lasts up to three minutes, and users can add a variety of filters and effects to enhance them. They also have the ability to send videos privately among friends or with the general public.
TikTok is like any other social media app
TikTok, like U.S. social media apps including Meta's (META) Facebook and Instagram, Twitter, and Snap (SNAP), collects user data to sell ads. In fact, according to a 2021 study by Citizen Lab, TikTok collects the same kind of data as Facebook.
TikTok receives information including a person's IP address, their web browsing habits and search history, though some privacy settings can override how much data is tracked.
We may disclose any of the Information We Collect to respond to subpoenas, court orders, legal process, law enforcement requests, legal claims, or government inquiries, and to protect and defend the rights, interests, safety, and security of the Platform, our affiliates, users, or the public.