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.

[yetanothernamitynamechange]

I also think that parents need to be aware that even if they don't allow access to tiktok, kids can still be exposed to it. Its normal for groups of kids to be gathered round someones phone in the playground for example. Most of the time its perfectly harmless but its impossible to control 100%

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

Well it sounds like they don't moderate TikTok if they let such stuff go out.

The suicide video has been found 'not violate community guidelines' in many many reports of it today. They do not screen and they do not react well to reported content.

[Allington]

I really don’t see why a blanket ban on something is useful for young teens who live in this internet age.

There will come a time when they have access to all of the internet, you cannot vet what they see forever. If they’ve been taught how to utilise the internet safely instead of suddenly being let loose I feel they’re better equipped.

^^ this

All children are different, and parents need to tailor restrictions to their child's development. But the reality is that they need to gradually learn to navigate the on-line world as well as the real world, to be aware of possible dangers and take steps to protect themselves as well as react to the unexpected.

OP - thank you for the reminder about the dangers of uncontrolled access to the internet. I hope every parent will make a considered decision about their child's access to the internet and the apps they use.

[Sennetti]

i'm guessing my older dc will have seen it by now anyway, its actually been around for quite a few days now

[PoppyRae]

@ChickenwingChickenwing are you really that naive? Access to friends phones? Disabling parent controls (this is very easy!) We unfortunately do not have complete control of what is out there and if you think you do then you’re sorely mistaken. Rather don’t be a lazy parent and just teach them how to use the internet safely.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@PoppyRae


My 13 year old son came to me an hour ago and told me he’d deleted Tiktok for a while because he’d heard about this video and didn’t want to see it. As far as I’m concerned that is more of a parenting win than banning them from using an app outright.

This is fabulous and an absolute parenting win. What a great response from your DS.

I am not talking about banning 13 year olds though. The thread is about young children. The 7/8/9 etc who's parents simply let them do whatever.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

[quote PoppyRae]@ChickenwingChickenwing are you really that naive? Access to friends phones? Disabling parent controls (this is very easy!) We unfortunately do not have complete control of what is out there and if you think you do then you’re sorely mistaken. Rather don’t be a lazy parent and just teach them how to use the internet safely.[/quote]


No, I am not naive. This is my job

I realise they can get access sometimes, but realistically I am taking to the parents who GIVE their young child a smartphone and allow them to use TikTok.

[lljkk]

DS & I were enjoying tiktok just now. Their algorithm is very good, I reckon.

[LovingLola]

As parents we need to educate our children on how to use the internet safely and what is appropriate content and what isn’t

We do. But many many parents do not.

[IndiaMay]

I think the confusion here is that people dont know how tik tok works. Imagine your Facebook news feed didnt show posts from your friends but posts from anyone and everyone in the world who had a Facebook account. No way to block them, no way to filter or stop them. There would be pictures and videos of dogs and dances but there would be a hell of a lot of people posting disturbing images and videos too. You cant choose to only see friends content, you cant block what you see. The only thing you can do is make your account private so only people you choose see what YOU post. Anyone who has an open account can have their content thrown onto anyone and everyones news feed at any time. That's what Tik Tok is

[NotExactlyHappyToHelp]

“ I am not talking about banning 13 year olds though. The thread is about young children. The 7/8/9 etc who's parents simply let them do whatever.”

Unfortunately I think you’re on a hiding to nowhere OP. Any parent who’d give their 7 year old unrestricted access to the internet is not one who’s going to listen to your concerns.

[CitizenFame]

I honestly can’t believe some of the responses the OP is getting. Yes the title was in capslock and the first post didn’t explain why it wasn’t the same as (for example) going on Youtube or Facebook and actively trying to look for the videos, but they made it clear and explained why and how it was different in many, many posts afterwards.

OP, perhaps you should just shrug it off and then not be tempted to join in the “AIBU to BAN TikTok? My child has just come in sobbing because he saw someone shoot themselves in the head with a gun” threads

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

I realise people are being defensive because they think my other as was posted as a criticism. It wasn't. There are so many sensible people on this thread who quite obviously do take this seriously who seem to be annoyed at me for posting.


You are not my target audience

I am trying to get through to the parents who don't give a fuck and give their young children access to, what can be, a very very dangerous app.

Forgive me again for my rudeness; I got caught up in the defensive because I didn't stop to realise the reason people don't agree. You are already doing it right. I'm not talking to you.

So many parents don't realise the dangers and these dangers are very very real. The damage that can be caused to children through TikTok is shocking.

Again I am sorry for being rude, but honestly, it's because I'm not taking to you. You don't need to defend your parenting if you are doing it right. But please, be aware that many others are not and that is who I wanted to reach today

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

*my THREAD

[PoppyRae]

I have an 8 year old who sometimes plays on her brother’s phone. I realise that I can’t always control this so I have educated her too. Whether they’re 8 or 13 they still need to be aware of what is out there and they need to know that even if we set all the controls possible things still slip through the net sometimes. Again, educate, educate, educate. I can’t stress this enough. Telling a child they can’t do something or can’t have something only makes them more curious. I appreciate what you’re trying to do here but sadly it’s not actually the best advice. I’d rather my child was prepared for a situation than be caught off guard and traumatised by something that is bound to happen at some point.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

Unfortunately I think you’re on a hiding to nowhere OP. Any parent who’d give their 7 year old unrestricted access to the internet is not one who’s going to listen to your concerns.

That doesn't mean we should not try.

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

I appreciate what you’re trying to do here but sadly it’s not actually the best advice. I’d rather my child was prepared for a situation than be caught off guard and traumatised by something that is bound to happen at some point.

I am 44. This is my job. I was not prepared.

Nobody is prepared to see that. Nobody.

[netflixismysidehustle]

I asked my 17yo about this and she said that there's lots of people with stills from the video as their profile pic.

The 13yo who is taking a break from TikTok for a while is reacting very maturely 👏 It's very worrying how many primary and younger kids watch TikTok without an adult

[mollypuss1]

This video has been doing the rounds of Twitter and Facebook also. If you are trying to warn parents about it’s existence then maybe mention those platforms aswell rather than claiming this is solely an issue with TikTok.

[MarshaBradyo]

[quote ChickenwingChickenwing]@PoppyRae

My 13 year old son came to me an hour ago and told me he’d deleted Tiktok for a while because he’d heard about this video and didn’t want to see it. As far as I’m concerned that is more of a parenting win than banning them from using an app outright.

This is fabulous and an absolute parenting win. What a great response from your DS.

I am not talking about banning 13 year olds though. The thread is about young children. The 7/8/9 etc who's parents simply let them do whatever. [/quote]
I wouldn’t want a 13 year old seeing this stuff. Or my 15 year old even. I just had a chat about it and he said he wasn’t on it anyway (pointless apparently).

[Chicchicchicchiclana]

@Feellikedancingyeah

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

Agreed. Good thread OP .

[ChickenwingChickenwing]

@mollypuss1

This video has been doing the rounds of Twitter and Facebook also. If you are trying to warn parents about it’s existence then maybe mention those platforms aswell rather than claiming this is solely an issue with TikTok.

It's literally in the OP:

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.

TikTok will put that on your feed. It is the most dangerous because you cannot filter content.

[Sennetti]

theres a thing going round tiktok now whereby people are deleting the app temporarily because of this......voting with their feet so to speak

[AbsenceOfBlinkinLight]

@PoppyRae

I have an 8 year old who sometimes plays on her brother’s phone. I realise that I can’t always control this so I have educated her too. Whether they’re 8 or 13 they still need to be aware of what is out there and they need to know that even if we set all the controls possible things still slip through the net sometimes. Again, educate, educate, educate. I can’t stress this enough. Telling a child they can’t do something or can’t have something only makes them more curious. I appreciate what you’re trying to do here but sadly it’s not actually the best advice. I’d rather my child was prepared for a situation than be caught off guard and traumatised by something that is bound to happen at some point.

I disagree. I think you can control what an 8yo sees eg by putting a passcode she doesn’t know on her brother’s phone. You’re choosing not to. That’s your parenting choice.

Mine is to strictly limit the internet and social media, and that works for me and my kids. I see no need to let them have access to the worst of the internet at 8yo (or even 13yo) in order to prepare them for seeing it at 18yo - kids do a massive amount of learning and growing in those years. I may change my mind (my oldest is 12), but for now, I think that mid to late teens is when I will want to gradually loosen the controls, once they’ve proven they can make sensible decisions about things in real life.

[rooarsome]

Personally I really enjoy tik tok, but most of my stuff is about literature, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings so I've never come across the videos OP is mentioning (not questioning whether they are in circulation, just that I haven't personally seen them). Saying that I wouldn't let my children have unsupervised access. I will have a look through cute dog/kitty vids and save ones I think they'll like to my phone.
It always pays to be cautious rather than flippant when it comes to the internet.