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AIBU?

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Original poster

Get your kids off TIKTOK. It's evil

219 replies

Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 19:49

I've just joined in order to report a video about one of my kids.

This is a dark and evil place that no teenager should be on.

What nasty little shits kids can be. Get your children off it, for their safety and mental health, and for that of others.

My kids aren't on it but I am seriously shocked as to how vile children are to each other. Please please stop your kids.

OP posts:
GoodJanetBadJanet · 22/05/2022 20:40

@anotherNCsorryfolks Social media is completely banned in my house. It's a bullies dream
I agree it can be a bullies dream, it's got its dark side.
How old are your kids though?
Mine weren't allowed any social media platforms at all until they were 13 then it was up to them.
However '' tight'' they said that made me.
Once they're past that age though you can't just control them otherwise they'll just go behind your back or just not tell you anything.

Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 20:40

SexyLittleNosferatu · 22/05/2022 20:09

Oh get a grip will you 😂

I have a grip.

And clearly you are about 12. So do one. 😁

OP posts:
EveSix · 22/05/2022 20:41

There have been instances of online bullying in my school, and it's definitely TikTok, closely followed by SnapChat and WhatsApp that cause problems. None of it would be possible, of course, if parents took responsibility and a) did not allow their children on social media apps for which they are too young, and b) monitored what their DC are actually posting about and commenting on.
What we've come across is shocking, and that's only in primary school.

grapewines · 22/05/2022 20:43

TikTok isn't evil. Twitter and Facebook aren't either. They are platforms on which some people unleash their vile nature more freely than they would otherwise.

MayDaze · 22/05/2022 20:44

AmazingBouncingFerret · 22/05/2022 20:16

I think posters are ignoring the information about you reporting a video made about your child.
OP, my daughter is also being bullied, both online and face to face in school. I understand how helpless you must feel and this post is probably a way of you trying to process and deal with it.

my daughter removed social media from her phone, the death threats are being dealt with by the police and I’m in the process of hopefully transferring her to a different school for a fresh start.

I hope your child gets some peace soon.

Oh gosh, in so sorry to read that ABF and yes I did skin read and missed that the OP was having similar issues. My apologies for my flippant original reply OP. I hope everything get sorted for your children ASAP.

Children definitely shouldn't be on it, as an adult with various interests I have a very positive experience of the site but agree with others about the algorithm showing what it thinks you want and an algorithm aimed at teens (and younger) is going to be very different to that of an overweight 40-something with a crochet addiction.

Sleepingsatellite1 · 22/05/2022 20:45

Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 20:40

I have a grip.

And clearly you are about 12. So do one. 😁

Show quote history

I don’t blame you for being upset, I wouldn’t have the first inkling of a grip if I’d been on TikTok regarding a horrible video about one of my DC 😨 It feels like a lot of posters are skimming over that part.

Georgeskitchen · 22/05/2022 20:45

Totally agree OP. Social media has ruined a generation of children.No wonder so many have mental health issues. Smart phones should be banned for under 18s

SettingsO · 22/05/2022 20:46

What? It’s all just dance videos and funny pets isn’t it? What are you typing in that you get to see lots of bullying? Confused

prettytoes · 22/05/2022 20:46

Absolutely agree OP. TikTok is awful, really really awful. Difficult if your kids are already on it but if not I would do everything I could to keep them off it.
MN parents may be more switched on but really there is no way most parents can have any idea what their children are seeing there or they would shut it down pronto.

Sleepingsatellite1 · 22/05/2022 20:49

SettingsO · 22/05/2022 20:46

What? It’s all just dance videos and funny pets isn’t it? What are you typing in that you get to see lots of bullying? Confused

As per her OP she was only on there to report a bullying video about her DD!

ProclivityForPyrotechnics · 22/05/2022 20:50

@tulips27 unless you're watching children on there you don't get to see videos of children. I've been on since 2020 and have never seen a dancing video of children or any children on there

ReceiptsAreSweet · 22/05/2022 20:50

GirlCrushxxx · 22/05/2022 20:11

What are you all searching for to create such vile algorithms?

This is my thought. I'm on it, and mostly get daft/amusing stuff by people with my interests and sense of humour, clips from programmes I like, things I am interested in, lovely people doing nice things for others and for animals....

Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 20:50

Kite22 · 22/05/2022 20:18

Odd. I signed up some months ago and haven't seen anything of what you describe.
I've seen a LOT of drivel. I realise it isn't aimed at my age group. There really is a LOT of nonsense on there. But there are ways people can bully on any platform.
As a pp said, it isn't the platform that is evil, it is the behaviour of whoever is doing the bullying,

I searched for the post that had been sent to me and I found lots and lots of others.

They were all related to school accounts and they were absolutely horrible.

The posts were horrible and the comments on them were worse. I know kids can be nasty, I wasn't born yesterday and I'm not an idiot. I expect it online. But the level of vitriol from very young children who shouldn't be on the platform in the first place suggests a lack of parental supervision.

It's dangerous. And that they can be anonymous makes them nastier. When I was a kid I could confront someone if they were horrible, these kids hide and bully.

I use Google family link to supervise my teens/tweens accounts and think it is excellent.

OP posts:
Jalepenojello · 22/05/2022 20:52

My kids aren’t on it yet as they’re too young and I wouldn’t allow it until they’re in their teen years.

But I use it and can’t agree it’s evil 🤨 the algorithms cater to what you pay attention to.

Sleepingsatellite1 · 22/05/2022 20:53

ReceiptsAreSweet · 22/05/2022 20:50

This is my thought. I'm on it, and mostly get daft/amusing stuff by people with my interests and sense of humour, clips from programmes I like, things I am interested in, lovely people doing nice things for others and for animals....

Show quote history

Why can’t you just read the OP, your ‘thought’ is dopey at best if you have.

Jalepenojello · 22/05/2022 20:54

They’re 12 but your OP offers no intelligent conversation regarding your concerns, you just state it’s “dark” and “evil”? The summary a child could write? Okay then.

MayDaze · 22/05/2022 20:55

Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 20:50

I searched for the post that had been sent to me and I found lots and lots of others.

They were all related to school accounts and they were absolutely horrible.

The posts were horrible and the comments on them were worse. I know kids can be nasty, I wasn't born yesterday and I'm not an idiot. I expect it online. But the level of vitriol from very young children who shouldn't be on the platform in the first place suggests a lack of parental supervision.

It's dangerous. And that they can be anonymous makes them nastier. When I was a kid I could confront someone if they were horrible, these kids hide and bully.

I use Google family link to supervise my teens/tweens accounts and think it is excellent.

Show quote history

OP, if you click on the share button at the bottom right of the screen you can "save" the video to your phone. Just thinking that If Tiktok delete it you won't have any evidence unless you have it saved (to show school, police whoever you have reported to)

kittensinthekitchen · 22/05/2022 20:57

They were all related to school accounts and they were absolutely horrible

@Codswallop20

What do you mean by this? You think these types of clips are being posted by schools?

SugarNspices · 22/05/2022 20:57

I know what you mean OP I'm not letting my kids have a smart phone for a long time yet and social media. Not that they have asked yet they are too young. I agree though people might think it's extreme but bullying in my school happened to could go you could confront the bully you could tell someone. Online they hide and it gets escalated because of this and it's worse because that video or post about your child can be passed around and it's on their forever. Its a much worse situation to be in than when we where in school. At least your kids will know you protected them and did what you could. Even if they don't always like it.

Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 20:58

This reply has been deleted

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Maybebabyno2 · 22/05/2022 20:59

tulips27 · 22/05/2022 20:29

I got freaked out when a male acquaintance of mine told me he likes watching dancing clips on there, aren't a lot of them under 18? He is 32.

To be fair, I watch a lot of the dance videos, my algorithm is basically dancing and body positivity. I have yet to see a child do any of the dancing unless on an adults page (like with their mum or whatever)

GoodJanetBadJanet · 22/05/2022 21:01

*I searched for the post that had been sent to me and I found lots and lots of others.
That explains the algorithm then and why you're seeing so many vile accounts.
Completely agree that it's disgusting about your child, I'd be upset too.
You'd have to ban all social media though as they're all like that if you're looking in the '' right'' places.
Hell, even MN has its dark side.
It's not limited to kids and what they see.
You have to educate your kids (teens) and hope they're sensible enough to stay away/block any abuse etc.

AnxiousSquirrel · 22/05/2022 21:02

I saw a bloke live stream shooting his face apart on TikTok, bits of brain everywhere, very graphic. Social media in general is awful, there's the exact same content on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 21:05

kittensinthekitchen · 22/05/2022 20:57

They were all related to school accounts and they were absolutely horrible

@Codswallop20

What do you mean by this? You think these types of clips are being posted by schools?

There are lots and lots of schools which have accounts named after them, they are not official school accounts at all.

They are set up for gossip and bullying purposes. But using school names, logos and badges

OP posts:
PizzaPatel · 22/05/2022 21:05

YANBU. Get kids off smart phones entirely.