TikTok Releases New Privacy Setting to Safeguard Teen Users

TikTok releases a new privacy setting to safeguard teen users. The popular app will automatically set to private and limit the commenting to the user's followers only. 

Default privacy setting

On Wednesday, the video-sharing app shared in a press release its news privacy settings and controls for users ages 18 and below. Users who have registered between the age of 13 to 15 will have default privacy settings. 

According to the release, only the user's approved followers could view the videos they are posting. However, teen users could also manually change their privacy settings by choice. The company said that they could set their profiles to the public if they want. 

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Engages teen in their privacy journey

TikTok stated in the press release that it wants to let young adults make more deliberate decisions about their privacy online. It is by engaging teen users early in their privacy journey. 

The announcement also noted that there are many other changes in the settings of teenage users. It said that only friends or no one could comment on the videos of the 13 to 15-year-olds. Besides that, only users ages 16 and above could allow video downloads.

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Only friends are allowed to comment

The company would also be changing Duet and Stitch settings, making them available for teens 16 and up. Registered users ages 16 to 17 would also have their settings to allow only their friends to view their posts. 

The release also stated that "suggest your account to others" will be turned off for teens ages 13 to 15. 

Direct messaging and live hosting will be restricted

TikTok will be promoting every user's safety by building on previous updates. Direct messaging and hosting live streams will be restricted for teens ages 16 and above. Users ages 18 and up would be restricted from buying, sending, or receiving virtual gifts. 

Parents and guardians could now protect their teens on TikTok because there is now a Family Pairing feature. The company also added a Younger Users option so younger audiences are safer and have stricter privacy options. 

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Continued evolvement to safeguard the users

The company believes that there is no finish line when it comes to protecting its users. TikTok stated that their investment in protecting users and their privacy would not stop. It said it would work closely with regulators and experts to evolve their policies. 

It wants to make sure that its platform remains a safe place for everyone to express their creativity safely. 

While new policies will safeguard teen users, parents should still make sure to monitor that their children and teens should not falsify their age. TikTok has no age verification process to ensure that the users are honest about their age.