Are your kids really safe on TikTok? How do we strike a balance between allowing our children the freedom to do their own thing online, while keeping them safe from predators?

Understandably parents are very concerned after seeing recent media coverage of the shooting death of a young TikTok star’s stalker.

The stalker arrived with a shotgun at the Majury family home but thankfully the trigger jammed.

Dad, Rob Majury, a retired police lieutenant, chased off the stalker, but fell. Majury told Collier County sheriff’s officers that he returned to the house, retrieved his handgun and stood guard at the front door, only to see the gunman return a short time later. By sunrise Justin lay dying, shot by Majury.

Terrifying!

Security tips

A global leader in cyber security has shared some tips for keeping kids safe from predators on TikTok that are a helpful starting point for concerned parents. 

  1. Make sure your kid’s account is set to private: This ensures that anyone who doesn’t know your child won’t be able to see their content. Luckily the majority of Gen Zs (57%) have set their TikTok account to private, according to our What Gen Z Actually Do Online report.
  2. Talk about what is safe to share on TikTok: Have a conversation with your kid about what’s appropriate to share on the app before they create their TikTok account (and repeat as necessary). Remind them to never give out identifying or private information (like their full name, address, or date of birth). 
  3. Speak with your kids about the dangers of connecting with strangers on the Internet: Remind your kids how easy it is for someone to be dishonest over the Internet. Teach them to only connect with friends on TikTok, and discourage them from communicating or connecting with any strangers on the app. This minimises the risk of them connecting with someone who is out to harm children.
  4. Teach your child how to report users: Encourage your kid to report users who do something inappropriate or considered “bullying” on TikTok. By reporting a problem, your child can let the appropriate authorities know that they should take action against a dangerous user.
  5. Make yourself open: At the end of the day, there are many security risks that your child can encounter using TikTok. While there are many precautions you can take, the best way to keep your child safe is by letting them know that they can come to you with any fears or concerns that come up for them when using TikTok. It also helps to remind them that they won’t get in trouble for anything they do or become afraid of, you’re only there to serve as a support, or to help them get out of a dangerous situation should they encounter one.

Source: Kapersky Resource Centre