Despite the meteoric rise, TikTok has been embroiled into too many controversies. So much so that the video-sharing social networking service was banned in many parts of the world including India. As you may have guessed, it’s the obscene content that has proved to be the wrecker-in-chief for the ByteDance owned platform. While I’m a huge fan of lip-syncing videos showcasing stunning dancing skill or out-of-the-box creativity, I always felt the company could do a lot better to ward off offensive stuff so that everyone from a little kid to a grown-up can use the app safely. So, I’m pleased to know that ByteDance now allows users to set up parental controls for TikTok on iPhone and Android. If you are yet to unravel this feature, let me help you get going!
There are two ways to enable parent control on TikTok on your iPhone and Android device. First is to use the native parental control methods that come in the app. And the second is to use the OS level parental controls on your iPhone or Android device. We have explained both the methods below.
TikTok features a pretty handy native parental control feature. So, if you don’t want to go for a full-on Screen Time on your iPhone or Android device, you can enable the restriction right from the social networking app. Aside from allowing you to enable app limitation, TikTok also offers a reliable way to reign in inappropriate content from showing up in the personal feed.
- Next up, you have two options:
After that, tap on “Turn on Screen Time Management” and set a passcode.
Just in case you want to have more control over TikTok, you can use the built-in Screen Time feature to prevent your kid from overusing the app. Do note that app limits will apply to all the devices synced with the same iCloud account. Moreover, the limits will reset every day at midnight.
- Now, tap on Add Limit and then enter your Screen Time Passcode.
From now onwards, an alert will appear five minutes before the limit is reached. And when the timer runs out, you will need to enter the passcode to use the app.
The latest versions of Android including Android Pie and Android Q come with a full-fledged parental control feature that can help you set up parental controls for the TikTok app on your Android smartphone or tablet. Its implementation is as straightforward as that of iOS’ Screen Time.
So, that’s the way you can stop your kid from overusing TikTok and safeguard them from being exposed to inappropriate content. Now that you know how it works, set it up perfectly to let your little ones explore videos safely or get on with the lip-syncing craze in a safe environment. Found this guide helpful? Toss up your thoughts and also let us know the sort of improvements you still want to see in this video-sharing platform.
