TikTok Parental Controls
Make TikTok as safe as you can for your children. Follow these quick and easy steps to reduce the dangers now
TikTok Parental Controls: A Step-by-Step Guide to Keeping Your Kids Safe
With TikTok's growing popularity among kids and teens, it’s more important than ever for parents to understand how to use TikTok parental controls to create a safer and more secure online experience. TikTok offers several tools that empower parents to manage screen time, restrict inappropriate content, and control who can interact with their child.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up and use TikTok parental controls effectively.
Set Up Family Pairing on TikTok
Here’s how to activate Family Pairing:
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Open the TikTok app and go to Profile.
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Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top-right corner and select Settings and Privacy.
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Scroll down to Family Pairing under the Content & Activity section.
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Follow the instructions to scan a QR code and link your account to your child’s.
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Once linked, you’ll gain access to essential TikTok parental controls, including screen time limits, restricted mode, and direct messaging settings.
Use TikTok’s Screen Time Management
Managing your child’s time on TikTok is easy with its built-in screen time tools.
To set a screen time limit:
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Open Settings and Privacy on your TikTok account.
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Go to Digital Wellbeing > Screen Time Management.
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Choose a daily time limit and lock it with a passcode.
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This feature helps promote healthy screen habits, and you can review weekly reports to monitor usage patterns.
Activate Restricted Mode on TikTok
Restricted Mode is another key feature in TikTok parental controls. It filters out content that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
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To enable Restricted Mode:
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Go to Settings and Privacy > Digital Wellbeing.
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Select Restricted Mode and set a passcode to activate it.
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While it’s not foolproof, Restricted Mode significantly reduces exposure to inappropriate content.
Manage TikTok Direct Messages
Direct messaging can be a safety concern for kids, but TikTok allows you to control or disable this feature entirely.
To manage DMs:
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In Family Pairing, go to Direct Messages settings.
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Select who can message your child: Everyone, Friends Only, or No One.
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Keep in mind that TikTok automatically disables direct messaging for users under 16, adding an extra layer of security.
Adjust TikTok Privacy Settings
Protecting your child’s privacy is an essential part of using TikTok parental controls. You can make their account private and limit who can interact with their content.
Here’s how:
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Open Settings and Privacy > Privacy.
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Turn on Private Account so only approved followers can view your child’s videos.
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Manage options for comments, duets, stitches, and downloads under the Privacy menu.
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These settings ensure your child’s content stays visible only to their trusted followers.
Use TikTok’s Content Preferences
TikTok parental controls also include tools to customize what your child sees on their For You Page.
To set content preferences:
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Go to Settings and Privacy > Content Preferences.
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Add keywords to filter out videos with specific topics or themes.
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This is a great way to tailor TikTok’s algorithm to align with your child’s age and interests.
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