Last Updated on 9th December 2021

  • Our digital safeguarding team continually review and test social media platforms

  • In the past week, they focused on TikTok, testing its safety features and the effectiveness of the platform’s ability to monitor and remove explicit content

  • The team used a login of a 14 year old to see what content they could search and view

  • Read below for an insight into content and trends which can be found on TikTok and what you can do to keep children and young people safer on the platform

Our team has highlighted four key areas of TikTok that could create online risks for children and young people in your care.

1. Audio

Our team was able to find sample audio clips which featured adult language, sexually explicit words, lyrics, actions and phrases. They were also able to track down music that  is unsuitable for children. One example included the words, “If you want to see me naked, all you have to do is ask”.

Some of this content might be distressing, or shocking to children who could be exposed to it while using the app. It could also promote harmful attitudes toward sex, relationships and body image. There are also concerns about its impact on the unhealthy sexual development of younger children, showing content beyond a child or young person’s development stage. 

2. On-screen Text

Our team regularly trawl the platform and report multiple instances of inappropriate text on the screen, with emojis and symbols used to circumvent TikTok’s safety filtering.

We found multiple examples where the onscreen text depicted inappropriate adult content which could be accessed by children. In some cases, comments involved requests for sexualised behaviour. Users can also use emojis rather than words to search which means they can use popular emojis to find inappropriate content.

3. Cross-posting & External Links

Our team was particularly concerned about the use of the users ‘bio’ to include links to other platforms. In some cases users signpost to personalised ‘contact cards’ which lists all their social media handles. In some cases, this included links to OnlyFans and Paypal details.

  • Users Bio: Contains any personal information they choose to write. This is always public.

  • OnlyFans: A subscription-based social media platform where users pay to access content from an individual. The content can include fitness or any other content but is popular with users, many underage who may sell ‘nudes’.

  • PayPal Details: There are concerns that payment links and the use of gifting on the platform may facilitate sexual exploitation, coercion and grooming on the platform.

4. Sexualised content

Our team reported several instances of content where users were wearing few clothes and in some cases posing or dancing in sexually provocative or intentionally revealing ways. While there was no full nudity, in some cases little was left to the imagination.

There were several examples of sexually explicit topics which used on-screen text, audio and video to discuss content that would likely be rated as suitable for 18+.

Key Takeaways

  • There is no effective age verification or adequate filtering on the platform
  • TikTok does not appear to be suitable for children, particularly younger children
  • Remember that even when ‘restricted mode’ is enabled, young people may still see inappropriate content


What you can do

  • Use the platform yourself to get an idea of how it works
  • If a child in your care uses the platform, try using it together and have an open conversation about the content you see
  • Talk to young people about what they can do if they see anything distressing online
  • Use TikTok’s safety features to limit the way a young person interacts with the app (see below)

Further Learning

For information on TikTok’s safety settings visit Our Safety Centre

TikTok: Digital Wellbeing

TikTok: Report a User

TikTok: Family Sharing

TikTok: Block a User

TikTok: Privacy Settings

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