TikTok for Young Children? No Way! - modernfamilyblog.com

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Are you on TikTok? Do you find yourself captivated by creators who bring humor or showcase makeup tutorials? Have you been learning dances or experimenting with trending recipes on your feed? That’s perfectly fine if you’re an adult. You handle adult responsibilities like paying bills, driving, and voting. You also have the awareness to navigate the potential dangers of social media, making informed choices about what is appropriate.

But what about your children? If you have teenagers, they’ve likely asked to join platforms like TikTok or Snapchat, or even Facebook and Instagram. Allowing your 13-year-old to share snaps with friends and watch TikTok videos might be acceptable, provided you monitor their activity. But what about your eight-year-old? Is it really appropriate for them to be on TikTok? The answer is likely no.

This topic has gained attention recently, particularly with celebrity mom Kim Kardashian creating a TikTok account with her daughter, North. The account features everything from dance routines to home tours. While showcasing daily life is part of their family’s brand, does it really make sense for an eight-year-old to be on TikTok? Personally, I would say no.

Adults have a clearer understanding of the risks involved. An eight-year-old likely doesn’t grasp the implications of sharing content online. Moreover, North comes from a family with extensive security measures—something that most children do not have. Unfortunately, we’re seeing younger kids creating social media profiles with increasing frequency.

While many platforms set a minimum age of 13 to join, this number seems somewhat arbitrary. Does turning 13 really make someone mature enough to navigate social media effectively? I have a 13-year-old son who uses Snapchat and TikTok, and I made the reluctant decision to allow him to join, largely because he and his friends are there. We keep a close watch on their interactions and are quick to communicate if anything inappropriate arises. On the other hand, my younger son, the same age as North, won’t be touching social media for several more years.

Research from Computers in Human Behavior supports the notion that young children should stay away from social media. It can negatively affect their self-esteem and, quite simply, they are too immature to handle it. “These findings suggest that the industry-based age minimum of 13 for social media users may potentially be a good standard, if it can be enforced,” says Dr. Linda Charmaraman, director of the Youth, Media, and Wellbeing Research Lab at the Wellesley Centers for Women. “The findings also suggest that a potential strategy to support families with children, tweens, and teens is to a) keep track of social media sites joined and online friend networks; b) set even one rule about screen use (i.e., limiting duration on school nights); and c) monitor children’s frequency of checking, particularly if they’re using social media at age 10 and younger.”

Let’s allow our children to enjoy their childhood. They grow up quickly enough without the added pressures of social media. TikTok for little kids? No, thank you.

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In summary, while social media can be a fun outlet for teenagers, young children should be kept away from platforms like TikTok. The risks to their development and self-esteem are too significant.

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