Help I'm so worried about dd

[MrsKnob]

Sorry, but I'm posting here for traffic

Does anybody know how the algorithms work on TikTok?? I've just been looking through my young teens account on the for you setting, and every 3rd or 4th post was either glorifying suicidal acts or eating disorders!!!

This is so unbelievably harmful, I have deleted the app.

Would she have been searching these topics for them to keep coming up in the for you section of TikTok??

Thank you in advance for anyone who can help with this. As you can probably imagine I'm now incredibly worried.

Yes, she's either been searching for them or happening upon these videos, liking them and/or watching them long enough to trigger the algorithm. I'd be having a very frank talk with her and arranging counselling asap.

You know now and you can sort it.

Try not to panic, how you react to this will determine how open your DD will feel able to be with you.

Has she been behaving differently at all?

On recent safeguarding training, I was told that Tik Tok’s algorithm pushes out controversial stuff to you even though you haven’t searched for it meaning things like this can be shown even when you aren’t at all interested in it. It doesn’t mean she has definitely been searching for it. I also have used Tik Tok before and have also had this happen - I definitely didn’t search for it.

If it pops up and if you watch it, even for only a little bit, it will start showing you more of the same thing.

He said there are very high levels of exposure and risk regarding eating disorders on both Snap and TikTok.

I agree that it doesnt necessarily mean she has searched for anything like that but she has watched it for long enough/liked it which means it shows you more similar stuff.
It could be that she watched it initially out of a morbid interest and now TikTok keeps showing her stuff. Eventually it does stop but you have to consistently scroll straight past that topic.
For example when I was pregnant I got tons of stuff about nursery reveals, packing hospital bags, birth advice etc. it continued for a while after I had my baby and I couldn't get it to go away at first but then it just stopped. Clearly I had just been scrolling past.

As you have already deleted the app I'm not sure if it's too late, but you could try re download it and have a look at what she has been liking and saving. If you want advice how to do this then I'm happy to help
You could also check notifications as people may have responded to any comments she's left etc

just checked my notes and that’s definitely what he said on the training. She doesn’t have to like it for it to return either.
He also said a recent report has shown rising concerns over phone addiction, screen time and mental health.
last 12 months = increase in online abuse and sexual exploitation
27% seen porn by age 11
42% of children have early addiction to social media
online grooming risen by 80%
snapchat is used to target children into county lines
children routinely view illegal activity on TikTok/snap chat. 55% have seen real life acts of violence on there.

I can’t get my head around why so many young children are allowed unrestricted access. You are definitely doing the right thing by looking into it! My teen daughter doesn’t have Tik tok but has snap chat on very restricted time limits. I’ve also seen a girl with very obvious eating disorders come up for her so blocked it. You are definitely right when you say that it’s very harmful!

Absolutely. I was sent a teaching one last week which I was kind of half looking at and didn't realise it had ended, only to hear screaming. The next one that had come along was a very very distressing video from Gaza. I had not been looking up anything like it. I don't even have it, someone sent me the teaching tt link.

All you can do now is let her know what you've seen and ask her what she thinks of them? I'm sure you're horrified and terrified but you'll have to seem calm and curious and open. You haven't mentioned her age. It is terrible that these things are online for young people.

I always monitor what she posts and re-posts, but haven't looked at her (for you) reel for a while.

I'm actually astounded how these big tech companies can get away with streaming shit like this to children.

She has become withdrawn a bit lately, but I put this down to growing up and becoming a teen.

I'm also absolutely astounded at how many children have unsupervised access to incredibly harmful content.

Where are the parents 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think this is the problem with social media but if it helps I found learning about eating disorders interesting as a teen, I never wanted to copy any of it but found other people's experience and the subject matter thought provoking to know about, maybe I should have gone into that area for work. I'm not diminishing it, but just saying that good to start conversations with an open mind.

Very kindly (because I agree with you), you are, somehow, that parent. How old is she? The app has a rating 13+, but parental guidance source warn 15+.

Most parents are probably on their phones.

It's easier said the done to control your kids social media.

Not all families are tech savvy and not all teenagers are as easy to control.

But all hail to those who can!

Hi,

I hope you're well.

I am a journalist writing about how TikTok algorithms are encouraging young people to start disordered eating and I was wondering if anyone on this thread would be interested in speaking to me on this topic?

If you do pm me.

Apologies for reactivating this thread.How do I block tik tok for my daughter? I believe she created an account.

I will ask my husband as he blocked and password protected it on my daughters account, it’s on a iPhone though x

Tik Tok builds the content to what you are choosing to engage with mainly, although it throws in some new creators to see if they resonate too. You can check who she has chosen to follow.