Bloody TikTok

[midlifeish]

Just got a notification to say my 15 year old managed to watch TikTok for almost 20 hours last week. She is in the middle of GCSEs and constantly uses that as an excuse to not get involved with family stuff (going out/non-screen activities) but is obviously finding time to be online. She is a good kid, no behaviour or academic issues but she only have one shot at these exams. What would you do? Leave her to it? Take her phone away in the day? We take it at bedtime until morning.

Can you limit the app usage? Cut to an hour a day maybe, just while exams are on.

I imagine my DD has watched similar if I'm honest and is also in GCSEs. Wish someone could just switch it off. If I were prime minister for a day I'd do that before my morning coffee. Then would ban smart phones for under sixteens. Sigh.

Unpopular opinion but it’s how she unwinds. Shes not out drinking all night.

Thats almost a whole day a week! Thats pretty excessive by anyones standards.

It's not just how a kid unwinds. It's highly highly addictive and designed to be that way. Research shows that short tik tok videos literally destroy the ability to focus or concentrate.

Set screen time limits!

my teens have them … they can ask for an extra time and I can give 15 mins or an hour.

you can set a time schedule via Apple family and also restrict certain apps indicator by group to a number of hours per day.

mine can always access keys communication apps - messages, phone calls and homework! & maps etc. things for safety and functionality.

they are limited on social media and “tv” apps within the allowed time frame. I think it’s an hour for SM & 2 hours tv per day I’ve opted for.

…. cover commutes on the train to college & hanging around waiting for after school activities.

Pomedoro technique with tiktok breaks.

But she really doesn't just have 1 shot at these exams she can resit as many times as she needs and that's ok. If she does well first try fantastic but if she doesn't get life isn't over.

My son did all of his revision from TikTok for his GCSEs. I did it all with him, the entire science curriculum is on there. Loads of English text and poetry. Are you sure she didn’t look up some stuff?
just look up gcse revision.
better than bbc bitesize

take the phone / device away. this is an addiction so treat it as such. read up Gabor Matte on how to deal with addictions in children including devices!

Another one here for tik tok revision - my son learns more via tik tok than actual lessons, resources etc. There is so much GCSE content on there for all subjects - she might be using it for that

Twenty hours a week is just over a couple of hours to unwind per day leaving six or seven hours of revision time available daily . I think they do need some unwinding time too.

Have you put screen limits on the phone? Have it inaccessible overnight.

Same here. My daughter followed maths, science and English teachers on tiktok and then went on to watch their YouTube channels as well. Helped her memorise quotes from Macbeth, Jane Eyre and Animal Farm, revise the main themes in the plots, helped her mind map the poems and links between them, gave her ideas on what to aim for in the creative writing part of English Language, revise topics in maths and science. She did really well. She has ADHD and poor short term memory so this type of learning suited her. Although be wary of the creators' "predicted topics" based on what's come up in the past few years, no guarantee its right. Maybe talk to your child about what they are watching and see if they can redirect them to educational rather than doom scrolling?

We set limits for our girl which we agreed on. Easy enough to do.

Did you not pass your maths ?

You really don't need 3 hours of screen time to unwind.

As a pp said, it is possible she's looking at revision stuff on there, but it is also highly likely she isn't.

Another who would limit phone time - I like the Pomedoro method.

I downloaded a new Tik tok account last week (so it had no presets for me in terms of adverts or content) & the things that came up on my reel - well I’m still in shock, now. Bonnie Blue was all over it, not to mention other hardcore videos. Be careful with a 15 year old..seriously.

My son failed all his in the 90s. Did an extra year and 6th form. Went to uni and got his degree. This is not her only 'shot' at it. He had to make the decision to do the work after he failed. He then realised. Stop putting so much pressure on kids. If she wants them, she will get them or, she will take her own path.

Nonsense, I have 3 kids all very high achievers all chill watching shorts and tick tok,times have changed.

I use the Iphone screen time feature on my teen's phone. But doomscrolling during this time could definitely be a sign of her succumbing to the pressure and needing comfort.

I suggest you have a discussion about it - or simply check in. Suggest maybe healthier ways for her to cope? There's actually this interesting app called we are luna that has articles and shortform videos (similar to tiktok) that have healthier content and are medically backed. Loads of resources about exam anxiety and revision tips too. Could help to motivate instead of keeping them hooked for hours at a time x

Honestly? Keep your nose out. She’s probably using it as background noise. If she isn’t failing then it obviously isn’t really a concern.

Do you always work in complete silence? Never pop the radio on while you do something else?

Not to mention the FLOOD of misinformation - did anyone else see this in the Guardian? https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/31/more-than-half-of-top-100-mental-health-tiktoks-contain-misinformation-study-finds

Scary but also not surprising,,, the stuff my eldest DD comes out with thanks to TikTok is ridiculous. I know someone else mentioned the app Luna but honestly so thankful my DDs have access to it so they can use it to debunk some of the rubbish they see on TikTok or hear through friends (who have also seen it on TikTok). If your worried for your child I recommend it.

Unfortunately TikTok is super addictive, OP do you feel she is spending enough time studying and seems to be coping? Mine uses the Pomodoro technique (someone else also mentioned this too) and uses TikTok as a reward vs a time suck which seems to work for her

another luna mum here 🙌 DD loves it – definitely recommend to anyone else not on this yet and struggling with finding an alt. to TikTok that's productive x

This. Take the phone away. End of.

We’ve resorted to essentially bribing dd to delete TikTok altogether through exam season - it’s terrible for their concentration but I was also concerned about the additional anxiety caused by all the teen exam drama on there before and after every exam. Her moods have improved massively too.