The video sharing platform TikTok announced the introduction of a new set of parental controls that go by the name of “Family Safety Mode“: this is a novelty that aims to allow parents to set limits on the use that their children make of the TikTok app. The set of features includes the management of the screen, restrictions on direct messages and a mode that limit viewing of inappropriate content.
Parents who want to enable Family Safety Mode must first create their own account on the app (in the meantime, increase the user base …), which is then linked to the child’s account. Once enabled, parents will be able to control how long their kids spend on the app each day, disabling or limiting direct messages and choosing to activate the “limited” mode that acts on the delivery of inappropriate content.
These are features that are already present in the app and that the individual user can already set for himself. The new mode simply brings these features under the direct control of a parent or guardian and prevents settings from being changed without involving the parent himself
The new set of parental controls however only a smaller portion of the controls that a single user can independently establish. For example, users can choose to make their account private, disable comments or control who can duet with them: these latter features are not present in the Family Safety Mode. However, the new mode tries to address some of the main concerns related to TikTok: its ease in creating “addiction”, the content delivered and private messages that otherwise would not be possible to monitor.
The new parental controls have already been made available in the UK. In the coming weeks they will then be expanded to other markets, although it is not clear exactly which and with which roadmap. The parental controls were however carried out keeping in mind the European laws, while as regards the USA market TikTok limits itself to offering an age-based use restriction, but not parental controls like this.
In addition to the launch of Family Safety Mode, TikTok has collaborated with some creatives to produce a series of contents that deepen the management of screen-time to encourage users to stop using the smartphone with frequent and prolonged breaks. These will be added to the TikTokTips video series and will be delivered in the app from the UK.
