The growth of TikTok is overwhelming and thousands of users join the platform every day. If you have tried to use the application and you are lost, or if as a parent or guardian of a minor you are worried about how they are using it and what kind of content they may be watching, calm down. This is all you need to know about TikTok.
What is TikTok?
The easiest way to describe TikTok is as a social network that combines the best and most addictive of other platforms such as YouTube, Vine or Instagram. That way, the idea is to create and publish short videos that are usually accompanied by background music.
Not surprisingly, the current approach is partly due to the purchase of Musica.ly, a network where short-lived music videos and playback were recorded that ended up merging its app with that of TikTok.
How TikTok works
The operation of TikTok is easy to understand, although those who are of a certain age may find it difficult to assimilate by the frantic pace of their publications. But basically what is done is to record small video clips to which you can add music or other effects, modify the playback speed, etc.
Taking into account that these videos should have a duration between a minimum of 15 seconds and a minute at most, it is normal that, together with these simple editing tools, hypnotic content is created at high speed.
In addition, quality and elaboration are not sought as much as spontaneity and originality. Hence, the platform itself invites you to consume and create content that is trending, based on tunes or fashion songs or any other subject that has repercussions at that time.
All that mixing is what makes TikTok a success and that, when you start watching videos, it costs to stop consuming content on your platform.
What videos can you watch on TikTok
@lipsyncbattle Me, every Friday. #LipSyncBattle 📺: Watch now in the Paramount Network app. ♬ original sound – lipsyncbattle
In TikTok you can watch videos of all kinds. In theory, most of the content is suitable for people over 13 years of age, but there may be publications where an explicit message inappropriate according to the user’s age is transmitted. And no, there are no filters or ways to limit what can be seen.
What you can do is know what ways to find content on the network. The first is in the home section and they are the videos of the people you are following. On that same screen you can also see the recommendations For you, videos that TikTok believes will be of your interest depending on what you’ve been watching.
Finally, there is the search engine that allows you to filter by a specific topic or see the hastatgs that are currently in trend.
Who can watch the videos you post?
Ok, you can’t limit which videos you see , but who sees the ones that are published on your profile or the one of the minors in your charge. To do this, just go to your Profile and in Privacy Settings disable the option to allow others to find you. This way you will no longer appear in the For you section of anyone and only those who follow you will see your videos.
If you want more control, then you must activate the Private Account option. So you can control who you accept as a follower and who does not. In addition, a series of extra options can be applied that affect how and who may or may not interact, react or send messages. All these settings are within the options of your Profile.
Tips for the responsible use of TikTok
As can happen with TikTok or any other application or internet service, there are some tools to ensure its use by the little ones , although the best option is always caution and understand how the platform works.
If you are a parent or guardian, you can create your own TikTok account and manage the child’s one by linking both thanks to the family security mode . This offers you options to limit the time of use and type of interactions.
To activate this family security mode, the following must be done:
- Download the TikTok application on your smartphone and create your own account
- Start the application and go to the user profile, there look for the option of Digital Detoxification
- Next, tap on the Family Safety Mode option
- Select if you are a parent / guardian or youth
- Depending on the previous selection, the option to scan a QR code or the code itself to link that account to the main one will appear
- Finally, you will have to create a code to access these options and avoid unauthorized access
- Again in Digital Detox you will see the options for time management on screen or restricted mode.
With this and explaining that if they see inappropriate content or suffer some kind of problem they should tell it to help them, neither TikTok nor another network should pose problems for the little ones. In addition, always with the condition of respecting what they publish and not making comments that can make them feel bad, you can follow them and have control over what they publish. In order to advise them whether it is appropriate or not.
And now, if you have not already done so, you can download the app and you can download the app and start with your first TikTok.