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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:
3totheright4totheleft · 22/05/2022 21:50

We have not allowed DD13 to have either TikTok or Instagram. She asked a few times but it was a hard No, and I know she will not go against it. I don't care about peer pressure or being cool. I have never been cool, and I am not going to start now.

Supergirl1958 · 22/05/2022 21:51

Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 19:53

I've never seen so much bullying. I was on it for all of 10 mins.

This is precisely the reason I HATE tiktok it’s full of bitchy horrible kids!!

Kite22 · 22/05/2022 21:51

I also think that it depends on the age of the dc.
You have mentioned 'children' a lot.
'Children' shouldn't be on any social media.
'Teens' of course are still 'our children', as are the adult children some posters have. But the way you approach supporting them to use social media is different. As it will be if they are just 13, compared with if they are 17.

CorsicaDreaming · 22/05/2022 21:52

My DH told me that the recent shooting in US was live streamed by the perpetrator and uploaded to TikTok as he was committing the massacre. I shudder at the idea of my DS unwittingly stumbling across that.

I agree, OP, I think TokTok can be really dangerous

calmlakes · 22/05/2022 21:53

The recent shooting was live-streamed on twitch but was taken down seconds into the content going live.

Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 21:59

IncompleteSenten · 22/05/2022 21:21

Tiktok isn't evil.
It isn't anything but code.

People are shits.

Remove tiktok and shitty people will just be shitty in other ways .

People being arseholes on line has shown me that this is how people actually are when they feel they are operating outside their 'real life' iyswim.

We need to be asking ourselves why so many people are, in their hearts, utter cunts .

Tiktok isn't even the worst of it. The very worst is the viciousness you see when they are anonymous or believe themselves to be. That's when you see who is and who is not 'evil'. Reddit has some fucking disturbing hate filled shit, normally terrifyingly misogynistic. There's that 4chan place, incels etc.

It's scary as hell when you realise what is bubbling away under the surface of people who seem perfectly civilised.

But it is. Because it is designed to be appealing to these children that are not old enough to make sensible and safe decisions.

And that, coupled with the fact their parents have no idea what they are doing, is what is utterly terrifying.

OP posts:
NohoHank · 22/05/2022 22:00

My feed is just recipes, arts/making/crafting and house make overs. No bullying in sight. And it's great for small businesses like mine.

FredaFox · 22/05/2022 22:01

What you see is definitely based on algorithms so overall I don't see anything g too awful but what I don't like is the volume of begging on the lives, I don't understand it fully but you can buy gifts that you then gift to creators you like, some are really expensive.
On these lives people duel each other and beg for gifts to best each other. One account is really bad for it, the Manley family, they have given up jobs to work on TikTok. most of their gifters are kids and vulnerable people. I've read this weekend that a child gifted them £150 out of money from a grandparent and now her parents are trying to get the money back, disgraceful

Pickabearanybear · 22/05/2022 22:02

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Pickabearanybear · 22/05/2022 22:06

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DustyTulips · 22/05/2022 22:11

You don’t see what your kids see.

Thats how the algorithm works. You get crochet videos (or whatever) and other harmless fun and your child gets whatever catches their interest. Then more extreme versions of it, so they keep watching.

Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 22:12

Kite22 · 22/05/2022 21:51

I also think that it depends on the age of the dc.
You have mentioned 'children' a lot.
'Children' shouldn't be on any social media.
'Teens' of course are still 'our children', as are the adult children some posters have. But the way you approach supporting them to use social media is different. As it will be if they are just 13, compared with if they are 17.

Mine are 11 and 16. Neither are allowed access to tiktok.

My eldest was allowed briefly and like a PP she was groomed. Also into manga and Japanese stuff. It was scary. And she couldn't see it. She thought it was fine, she thought she was talking to other kids.

Seriously Mumsnet, if you let your kids on there have a bloody good look at what they are doing. And if you don't, keep it that way!

OP posts:
IDreamOfTheMoors · 22/05/2022 22:12

Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 19:55

And how does one do that when everything is anonymous? I'm thankful my kids aren't on it.

There is stuff on there that could push kids to commit suicide. And probably does.

Show quote history

@Codswallop20
If you disapprove of what your child is seeing online, simply take your child’s phone away.
I guarantee they’ll find a way to watch it behind your back, no matter what you do.

It’s like the push to ban books going on in the U.S. right now — those kids are determined to find those books and read them.
And they will.

Btw - my parent committed suicide long before the Internet was introduced to the public.
Hmmm…

Benjispruce4 · 22/05/2022 22:14

And we wonder why children and teen mental health is in decline.

luciatrope · 22/05/2022 22:17

Even the creators of social media won't let their children use social media.

So why would anyone?

Poppetlove · 22/05/2022 22:18

It’s terrible, Kids can’t get away from bullying. Used to be just at school but now it’s available 24/7 online.

mind you, some adults are no better.

CoastalWave · 22/05/2022 22:19

Sleepingsatellite1 · 22/05/2022 20:17

A mum in America is apparently suing them because her daughter died doing one of the ‘challenges’ people put on there, I’m not sure of the law surrounding this but she was 10/11 and the age for sign up is supposed to be 13 I think. Either way that’s an awful thing to happen and shows it can be a dangerous site.

Whilst that is obviously tragic, crossing the road is bloody dangerous.

My kids are much younger and I regularly talk to them about how NOT to do stupid shit just because someone else is.

Being in your own home and being unaware that bleach can be fatal is a dangerous thing.

Educate your kids. My Tik Tok is full of funny/cute animal videos, caligraphy, and cake decoration, That's pretty much all I get shown. If you're seeing shit, it's because your kids looked for it.

Blinkingbatshit · 22/05/2022 22:21

Tiktok was developed by a Chinese company - they give it to the rest of the world but it is not allowed on home territory. Their version (that they allow) promotes education and learning whilst the version they gave the rest of the world promotes idiotic shite #gofigure !!! 🙈

Oioicaptain · 22/05/2022 22:22

My children have never used it as they are too young, but my eldest is just approaching that age, so I will heed your advice OP. Thanks for posting!

Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 22:24

@IDreamOfTheMoors

I have taken it away.

Which you would know if you had read my posts, including the OP where I stated I had to join tiktok in order to report something my DC have not seen.

OP posts:
Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 22:26

@IDreamOfTheMoors I am also very sorry for your loss and can't begin to imagine how much that would affect you. I genuinely mean that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Codswallop20 · 22/05/2022 22:29

Oioicaptain · 22/05/2022 22:22

My children have never used it as they are too young, but my eldest is just approaching that age, so I will heed your advice OP. Thanks for posting!

Thank you!

If my posts can keep anyone from seeing this horrible shit I consider it a win. That will do me.

OP posts:
ouch321 · 22/05/2022 22:38

Agree with you OP.

No kids myself but if I did they would not be permitted on it till late teens.

The thing is that of the posters on this thread who are making you out to be an idiot or over-reacting or whatnot, I'll bet a proportion are parents of the kids who are doing the bullying...

maryanne96 · 22/05/2022 22:38

Tiktok is absolutely disgusting i seen a woman get mangled in a truck on there! what is wrong with this world and why are peoples kids watching murders on an online forum! i will be banning my kids from tiktok and i will also be making them pray to god after seeing such atrocities on that retched minging manking app!

Thirdsummerofourdiscontent · 22/05/2022 22:40

YouTube shorts seems to be a lot of TikTok content too.