With so many social networks to keep track of, it’s not surprising if your kid’s obsession with the TikTok app leaves you scratching your head. So what is it exactly"
TikTok – Real Short Videos is a free social media app that lets you watch, create, and share videos?often to a soundtrack of the top hits in music?right from your phone. It was originally available as musical.ly in the U.S. but was rebranded when the two apps merged in August 2018. With more than 100 million users, Tik Tok is incredibly popular, owing in part to its slick mash-up of features from other kid favorites. As with the lip-synching app Dubsmash, users can watch and record videos of themselves lip-synching to popular music and sound bites. As they did on the now-defunct Vine, kids can create short, shareable videos ranging from funny to serious. And just like YouTube, Tik Tok is an interactive world of videos that lets you connect with friends and admirers through likes, comments, and even duets. TikTok – Real Short Videos even spawns its own celebrities. Almost overnight, musical.ly sensations like Baby Ariel and Jacob Sartorius have gained internet fame, especially with kids and teens.
But with so much information out there, it can be a challenge for parents to know if it’s really safe. While TikTok videos are mostly harmless, creative fun, there are real concerns about kids using the app. As with any social network, you have to use privacy settings to lim...