APPY Days
SHARE
SPONSORED
JAYDEN MELLOR is in the kitchen of the family home making his dad, actor Will, a cup of whipped iced coffee.
How Will Mellor and his family are
having fun – and staying safe – on TikTok
The frothy drink is made using a technique that’s gone viral among teens on TikTok, the app that allows users to create and comment on short videos – and Will is seriously impressed.
“Apparently he learnt how to make this on TikTok,” he says, taking a sip. “Jayden doesn’t drink coffee, so I’m wondering how this is even possible! It’s an amazing app.”
While Jayden, 18, has been on TikTok for several years now, Will, 46, only joined in September. But with his 14-year-old daughter Renee recently joining in the fun, he’s keen to get to grips with the app’s safety features.
“I definitely feel like I should know more about TikTok,” Will says. “Jayden’s on it a lot, so he’s going to teach me what he knows – he’ll be like the parent here.
“It’s a good idea for me to learn how to protect Renee. I'm not going to cut her off from a platform she uses with her friends, but I want to make sure she’s safe.”
In the UK, you need to be at least 13 years old to join TikTok. The experience on the app is tailored to the age of each user, so you can be sure the content your child sees is appropriate.
Screen Time Management
Screen Time Management
lets you set a maximum daily screen time directly from your own TikTok account. Teens can only exceed the limit using your passcode.
Direct Messages
are automatically turned off for users aged 13 to 15, and from 16, you can restrict who can send messages directly to your teen, or turn messaging off completely.
Comments
can be restricted or turned off – one option is to set it so only your teenager’s friends can comment on a video.
Your at-a-glance guide to TikTok's safety features
For further information on
TikTok’s safety features, click below
MORE
MORE
A range of features is also available to help support younger users, including Family Pairing, which allows parents to add their choice of privacy controls to their teen’s account.
“TikTok feels like one of the safest platforms out there,” Jayden says. “Age-restricted features mean Renee can’t receive direct messages from other users until she’s 16, and Dad can use Family Pairing to link his account with hers.
“It means he can manage the content she’s being shown and filter out certain comments.”
“I would never say to my daughter, ‘Right, I’m controlling your TikTok,’” adds Will. “We’ve always been honest and open in this family.
“We talk about things and try to understand each other, so we’d discuss together why Family Pairing is important.
“It’s a good idea to start these conversations now – and hopefully Renee will understand it’s to protect her.”
Another feature of the app is Screen Time Management, which encourages users to take regular breaks.
By linking their TikTok accounts, parents can set a daily limit that stops teens spending too much time glued to their phones. “I still use it every now and then because it’s good to have a break,” Jayden says.
“That feature sounds good to me because it means I can spend time with my kids!” Will says, laughing.
“I worship time with my family and using Screen Time Management means I might be able to see them a bit more. It’s about everything in moderation, isn’t it?
“The more people that know about the safety features available, the safer kids can be. TikTok is part of my children’s lives now, so my job is to make sure it’s safe."
‘my job is to make sure it's safe’
Teens under 16 are given private TikTok accounts, so it’s important to make sure young people use their correct date
of birth when setting up their account.
Other features include comment filters and the option to report content that goes against TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
Family Pairing also allows parents to customise their teen’s safety settings by linking their TikTok accounts.