GET YOUR CHILDREN OFF TIK TOK *content warning for disturbing imagery added by MNHQ at request of OP*

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

Shamelessly posting for traffic.

I have wondered all day whether to post this or not but ultimately it might help save one person from viewing something they shouldn't.

For every single one of you who allows your young child to use TikTok please be aware that there is a video circulating today of a man committing suicide. Yes, he did it in a live stream and the video is all over the place now. TikTok is that one social that you cannot prevent you children from seeing ANY content. If you allow them the app you allow them the content.

Get your child off the app now unless you wanted them traumatised for life after watching someone shoot their brains quite literally out.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@ShinyGreenElephant

You can restrict content on tiktok, its relatively easy

You cannot do this at all.

[Floralbean]

It's basically tumblr 2014 in terms of promoting and celebrating EDs and encouraging the competiveness. Plus theres questions around how safe it is as an app in terms of spying.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@YeOldeBlackFog

OP you come across a little unhinged and you’re getting people’s backs up. You could get your message across without being so hysterical. A simple “are people aware that suicide videos and the like are on TikTok? Just putting it out there incase you didn’t know and your kids use it”

Not “Get your kids off TikTok!!!”

Unhinged

[Lucindainthesky]

How do you restrict content?

[OutOfDateAppleCrumble]

@MoistMolly

I can parent my own children thanks Op

Maybe you can but a lot of people can’t. Kids with unfettered access to the interned are not being parented effectively:

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

I am really sorry that I am coming across badly, it's really not intended and I did just want to make people aware. It really worries me how many people think TikTok is ok for small kids.

[Feellikedancingyeah]

OP you are right to warn people . I personally think this and similar apps should be for over 18 only

[YeOldeBlackFog]

Sorry OP, I shouldn’t have said unhinged. I’m having a shit day and shouldn’t take it out on you.

I just mean that you are maybe coming across a bit aggressive in the way you post.

[Doingitaloneandproud]

I haven't seen the video on TikTok and I do watch it a fair bit, but I have seen users who have made videos telling others if they see it to scroll immediately so warning them

There's been suicides live streamed on Facebook, no doubt it'll make its way there too if it hasn't already and on Twitter so lots more will see it

[MarshaBradyo]

@Feellikedancingyeah

OP you are right to warn people . I personally think this and similar apps should be for over 18 only

Yes me too

[AbbieFB]

How do you restrict content?

Google TikTok restricted mode and the instructions come up. I've just been reading about it.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@YeOldeBlackFog

I just read back my OP. I actually said please be aware - not sure I was being hysterical

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@AbbieFB

How do you restrict content?

Google TikTok restricted mode and the instructions come up. I've just been reading about it.

Then you will read it 'tries' to filter out inappropriate content. It doesn't do it effectively.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@YeOldeBlackFog

Sorry OP, I shouldn’t have said unhinged. I’m having a shit day and shouldn’t take it out on you.

I just mean that you are maybe coming across a bit aggressive in the way you post.

Accepted.

[BrieAndChilli]

As parents we should be teaching children how to use the internet safely and appropriately. Our kids now that we randomly monitor thier phones, thier emails automatically get sent to DH, safety controls are activated where appropriate, we discuss that issues and dangers of things online etc and have a very open relationship, the kids are the first toninstantly come to us if someone they don’t know asks to befriend them. In fact the only time they have seen something inappropriate was when a random girl in an older year who DS had never seen before came up to him and showed him a pornographic photo on her phone. He instantly texted us when it happened, I rang school and within the hour he was going through photos to identify the girl and the police were involved.
I’m very happy with the access my children have, they have some freedom but we monitor and make sure they are able to keep themselves safe.
The response isn’t to just ban kids from everything, it would be like never letting them cross the road and then one day just letting them cross the motorway. You should be letting them use the internet in age appropriate ways and gradually increase thier usage and access.

[YeOldeBlackFog]

[quote ChickenwingChickenwing]@YeOldeBlackFog

I just read back my OP. I actually said please be aware - not sure I was being hysterical [/quote]
It was more your follow up posts, responses to other people. You care and that’s not a bad thing but sometimes it can come across too strong on a forum iyswim?

[AfolMummy]

Thanks for the warning OP.

[EinsteinaGogo]

Thank you for the post, OP.

It's really easy to become lax with these things, yet completely impossible to unsee something as horrific as you've warned about.

[TreestumpsAndTrampolines]

It's trending. It would be a good idea to stay away.

The trouble with TikTok and the like is that it pushes content to you, you don't have to go searching for it like you do just with a web browser.

It's not even like youtube, which makes recommendations, and forwards you on, but in general sticks to your subjects. TikTok's entire raison d'etre is to push stuff to you.

[GetKidsOffTikTok]

Name changed for this.

Me and my teenage daughter have been to police yesterday for a chat about online safety and in relation to TikTok yes police is inundated with cases involving TikTok mostly because it isn't monitored by parents in a way it would be done with more popular platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. Content on TikTok is pretty much completely unmoderated, there are lots of hugely disturbing videos about self-harm, anorexia, sex, violence and additionally kids feel encouraged to post videos of themselves publicly without thinking it through - often without their parents knowing.

If your child already has TikTok, I'd say at a minimum make sure you have a password to their account, go through all the 'friends' to make sure they are people known to you / your child, and enable Family Pairing

Online grooming rates are 3 times higher than previously because of lockdown so everyone needs to be extra careful right now. My daughter has been a victim which is horrendous but at least thanks to lockdown she couldn't meet the man in person. Police have shown us a video about online grooming which is very chilling - every parent should watch this and do their best to keep children safe even if it sometimes means invasion of privacy. Safety trumps privacy.

[Lollyneenah]

You're not hysterical. It's a horrid word used to make women shut up.
You come across as kind but exasperated OP. You're trying to do your best to keep other peoples children safe(r) and getting called all sorts. You dont deserve it at all. Perhaps people should saving their venom for other things

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

It was more your follow up posts, responses to other people. You care and that’s not a bad thing but sometimes it can come across too strong on a forum iyswim?

Yes. I have apologised generally for this. It's completely unintentional.

[butterpuffed]

You're right to let people know.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

As parents we should be teaching children how to use the internet safely and appropriately.

I don't disagree. My point is that TikTok is not for young children and that falls under the 'teaching them how to use it safely' category for me. Ie: not at all

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@Lollyneenah

You're not hysterical. It's a horrid word used to make women shut up.
You come across as kind but exasperated OP. You're trying to do your best to keep other peoples children safe(r) and getting called all sorts. You dont deserve it at all. Perhaps people should saving their venom for other things

Thank you. Exasperated is exactly how this makes me feel. I can say more and be blunt here where I cannot to parents in real life under the work category. I have to treat them like they do no wrong whilst trying to explain they are doing wrong