Is TikTok safe? We cannot give an affirmative or negative answer to this recurring question. What we can do is know the risks of using social networks and take measures to protect our safety and that of our loved ones. In this article we will see how to use TikTok safely and how to avoid scams within the platform. We will also talk about how safe is tiktok for kids and how to use their privacy and security options to keep them safe.
Is TikTok safe? How to use the app without taking risks
TikTok is a very popular application that allows you to create, edit and share short videos with family, friends and followers in an easy and fun way. This has meant that the social network has gained thousands of users in a short time, with young people spending the most time on the platform. However, Are there risks in using TikTok? What measures can be taken to reinforce security and privacy within the social network?
Review privacy and security settings
To use TikTok safely, uses the options Privacy & Security within the app itself. From there you can choose who can view, comment, send messages or follow the videos you upload. You can also set your account to public, private, or mixed, depending on the level of exposure you want.
Private account
For example, if you set your account to private, only users you approve will be able to follow you and watch your videos. The steps to make a TikTok account private are:
- Open TikTok and go to your Profile page
- Click on the menu with the three horizontal bars in the upper right corner
- Select the Settings and privacy option
- Now click on Privacy
- Under the Private account entry, activate the switch and that's it.
Comments
You can also control what happens to the comments they make on your videos. it's possible establish who can comment, which comments will be public and which will remain hidden. The steps are these:
- Within TikTok, choose Profile > horizontal bar menu > Privacy Settings.
- Tap Privacy and go to Comments under the Interactions section.
- In Comments, choose who can comment on your videos and Stories: Everyone, Followers you also follow, Nobody.
- Under Comment Filters, you can turn on all three switches:
- Filter all comments, so that they remain hidden until you approve them.
- Filter spam and offensive comments, so they are hidden unless you approve them.
- In Filter by keyword, you can assign a keyword so that the app marks the comment that has it as spam.
Direct messages
Another useful privacy option is to Set who can send you direct messages (Everyone, Recommended Friends, Friends, None). You can also set Safe Mode to filter messages with sensitive content or from unsafe sources. Also turn on the Nudity Filter switch to block content that may include nudity in chats.
Do not share personal information
Make sure you don't share personal or sensitive information in your videos, such as your full name, address, telephone, email or card number. Doing so exposes you to dangers such as identity theft, harassment, and other crimes that are common on the Internet.
Report disturbing users
You always can report and block to users who annoy you, threaten you or send inappropriate messages. Likewise, the app has options to report any content that violates TikTok's community guidelines. Using these tools integrated into the platform is the best way to stay away from the risks inherent to social networks.
What information does TikTok collect?
Another issue related to security on TikTok has to do with the type of information the app collects from its users and what it does with it. Like other social networks, TikTok has access to a series of personal data of its users, both to offer their services and for advertising purposes. This data includes:
- Registration data: Name, email, phone number, date of birth, gender and exact location.
- Profile data: photo, biography, preferences, interests and contacts.
- Type of content you see in the app and for how long, as well as messages, comments and reactions.
- Information about your device: Model, operating system, language, IP address, configuration.
- To use the app, you must give it permission access microphone, camera and storage Of the device.
What does TikTok do with all this information? The company states that it only uses it to provide and improve its services. With it, it can get an idea of who you are and show you ads that interest you, for example. It also uses it to guarantee security and compliance with the regulations applicable to the platform, as well as to communicate with its users.
However, the company acknowledges that it may share this data with other entities of the ByteDance group (TikTok's parent company), third-party service providers, business partners, public authorities or third parties. This has generated strong reactions from some governments and entities, such as prohibiting the use of the app by their members or employees.
Is Tiktok safe for children?
The above makes us wonder if TikTok is safe for children and adolescents, who make up the bulk of its users. The app requires those who register in it be at least 13 years old. It also establishes that anyone under 18 years of age must have the approval of their guardians or parents to use the application. But we all know that these measures are not enough to protect children from the potential dangers of social media.
In addition, some of TikTok's own features pose an additional concern. For example, most of your content is in video format, which could expose children to high-impact inappropriate content. Also, User profiles are public by default, and messages are also defaulted to public. Few children and teenagers pay attention to these aspects of their safety when they register on TikTok.
All of this creates the need for parents and caregivers to supervise their children's use of the social network. You have to monitor the type of content they upload and consume, as well as the time they spend in the app. In this sense, TikTok incorporates privacy options like Screen Time and Family Sync. And many mobile phones have the function of Digital Wellbeing or similar. These tools are very useful to make TikTok safe for the little ones.
How to avoid scams on TikTok
Finally, let's talk about how to avoid falling into traps that could put your safety or money at risk when using TikTok. Among the measures you can take to avoid being a victim of a scam on TikTok are:
- Do not share personal or financial information with anyone who contacts you through the app. Remember that a scammer can pose as an influencer, a brand or a trusted person.
- Don't click suspicious links that reach you through direct messages or comments.
- Do not download applications or programs that promise to increase your followers, likes or comments on TikTok.
- Distrust of any offer, product or service that is too good to be true.