TikTok is becoming increasingly conscious of the potential harm its platform may cause to teenage users, particularly with issues related to mental health, body image, and overall well-being. In an effort to mitigate these effects, the platform has introduced several initiatives aimed at creating a safer online space for its younger audience.
One significant move has been the launch of a Global Youth Council, consisting of 15 teenagers from various countries. The council’s purpose is to provide insights and suggestions to help TikTok better cater to the needs and safety of young users. This advisory group works alongside experts to address concerns such as bullying, the pressure to meet beauty standards, and other issues that can negatively affect teenagers’ mental health.
In addition to the youth council, TikTok has also focused on improving parental control features. One of the key tools in this area is Family Pairing, which allows parents to link their TikTok accounts to their children’s, giving them the ability to monitor screen time, restrict content, and manage privacy settings. This feature is part of the platform’s broader effort to promote healthier app usage by fostering more open communication between parents and their teenage children.
To further support this initiative, TikTok has launched media literacy campaigns aimed at educating both teenagers and their parents about online safety and responsible social media usage. These campaigns focus on guiding users to recognize harmful content, deal with cyberbullying, and understand the potential long-term effects of social media addiction. By promoting awareness, TikTok hopes to encourage its younger users to navigate the platform with caution while helping parents become more involved in their children’s online activities.
Despite these efforts, TikTok continues to face scrutiny, especially in countries like the U.S., where lawmakers are concerned about how the platform manages data privacy and its potential role in amplifying negative online experiences for teenagers. These concerns have sparked multiple investigations into TikTok’s data handling practices, and while the platform is taking steps to improve youth safety, it remains under pressure to deliver meaningful changes to its policies and features.
