Security News > 2021 > January > TikTok Takes Teen Accounts Private
TikTok has decided to boost privacy measures for its underage users, the popular video-sharing social-media company announced.
TikTok's popularity is being driven by teens - the company reported in 2019 about 60 percent of its 26.5 monthly users are between the ages of 16 and 24, and these latest measures are an attempt to make the platform safer for its youngest users, according to the company.
"With a private TikTok account, only someone who the user approves as a follower can view their videos. We want our younger users to be able to make informed choices about what and with whom they choose to share, which includes whether they want to open their account to public views. By engaging them early in their privacy journey, we can enable them to make more deliberate decisions about their online privacy."
Additional changes for the under-18 TikTok crowd include limiting comments on videos created by users 13-15; limiting Duet and Stich to only users over 16; changing the default setting for Duet and Stitch to "Friends" for 16- and 17-year-old users; and prohibiting downloads of videos by users under 16.
A limited TikTok app for users under 13 launched last year, will now partner with parent watchdog group Common Sense to deliver appropriate videos for younger TikTok-ers.
"With TikTok's thoughtful changes to teens' privacy settings, National PTA continues to recommend that families sit down together, explore the app's safety controls and tools, and have open and ongoing conversations to help teens be safe and responsible online. This is particularly important to ensure teens' accounts are set up right from the start. PTA looks forward to continuing our important work with TikTok to educate families across the country about online safety."