Is TikTok OK for my child?
Short-video app with an extremely effective recommendation feed. The For You page learns what holds attention and serves more of it, which is both the appeal and the problem.
Minimum age
13
Under-16 accounts are private by default and cannot use direct messages.
Type
Video
Official safety page
TikTok Guardian's GuideWhat to actually watch for
- The algorithm can drag a curious tap towards extreme content: dieting, self-harm adjacent material, or misinformation.
- Endless scroll is engineered to be hard to put down, and late-night use is the most common flashpoint at home.
- Trends and challenges occasionally encourage risky behaviour.
- Livestreams and comments expose children to unfiltered strangers.
The settings worth switching on
Set up Family Pairing from your own phone: it links your account to theirs and controls screen time, restricted mode and messaging remotely.
Check the daily screen time limit: under-18 accounts get a 60-minute prompt by default, but it can be dismissed unless you lock it via Family Pairing.
Keep the account private (default under 16) and direct messages off (unavailable under 16).
Show your child the "Not interested" button, which genuinely retrains the feed.
Our honest take
Usable from 13 with Family Pairing set up and screen time locked, but this is one to supervise actively: the feed, not other users, is the main risk. Our TikTok Family Pairing guide walks through every setting step by step.
Frequently asked questions
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Last reviewed: August 2026. Minimum ages and settings were checked against the platform's own published policies, and platforms change them often, so the official page linked above always has the latest.