Social platform · High risk
Is TikTok safe for your child?
Age guide
13+
We advise TikTok from age 13 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk).
- 5-8
- This age group is below TikTok's minimum age requirement of 13; children this young should not have an account.
- 9-12
- Children in this age range are also below the minimum age; if they have an account, they may be exposed to trends or challenges not suitable for their development.
- 13-15
- Teens may engage in creating short videos, participating in trends, and following creators, often encountering content related to music, dance, and humor.
- 16+
- Older teens might explore a wider range of content, including news, educational topics, and niche communities, and may use the platform for self-expression or connecting with peers.
TikTok is a short-form video hosting service where users can create and share short videos on any topic. It is known for its viral trends, music, and creative editing tools.
- Age guide
- 13+
- Overall risk
- 7/10
- Violence
- 2/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 7/10
- Stranger contact
- 7/10
- Addiction risk
- 10/10
- Language
- 7/10
- Influence
- 9/10
What parents should know
TikTok is a short-form video platform where users can create and share content. It features a powerful algorithm, direct messaging, and a wide array of trends and challenges. Parents should utilize 'Family Pairing' to manage screen time, restrict content, and control privacy settings, while also discussing responsible online behavior.
What to do about TikTok
Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.
- The age-by-age verdict
What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for TikTok is 13+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact TikTok setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about TikTok without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in TikTok that mean it is time to step in.
TikTok age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is TikTok?
Parentwise puts TikTok at 13+. We advise TikTok from age 13 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). Violence scores 2/10, language 7/10, stranger contact 7/10 and addiction risk 10/10.
Can a 10 year old use TikTok?
Not by default: we advise TikTok from 13+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range are also below the minimum age; if they have an account, they may be exposed to trends or challenges not suitable for their development.
Can a 12 year old use TikTok?
Not by default: we advise TikTok from 13+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Children in this age range are also below the minimum age; if they have an account, they may be exposed to trends or challenges not suitable for their development.
Can a 13 year old use TikTok?
Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for TikTok (13+). Teens may engage in creating short videos, participating in trends, and following creators, often encountering content related to music, dance, and humor.
Is TikTok appropriate for kids?
TikTok is a short-form video platform where users can create and share content. Parentwise rates TikTok overall as high risk (7/10), with stranger contact at 7/10 and addiction risk at 10/10.
Is TikTok family friendly?
TikTok is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. It features a powerful algorithm, direct messaging, and a wide array of trends and challenges.
TikTok parents guide: what should a parent know first?
TikTok is a short-form video platform where users can create and share content. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (7/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (10/10).
Is TikTok safe for kids?
We advise TikTok from age 13 and up. Overall risk 7/10 (high risk). It features a powerful algorithm, direct messaging, and a wide array of trends and challenges.
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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.