TikTok has different rules for different ages: Users under age 13 can't post videos or comment, and content is curated for a younger audience. For kids age 13 to 15, accounts are private by default. Only friends can comment on videos, and other users can't duet (explained below) with your videos.
Jean Twenge, our nation's leading researcher on how social media impacts child and adolescent development, recommends that no child under 13 should be on any social media, including TikTok. And I would add that many 13-year-olds aren't ready.
TikTok account restrictions by age:
Under 13: Users under 13 can watch videos but can't search for or comment on them. They can't post their own videos either or have followers. And their data isn't collected. 13 to 15: Users 13 to 15 years old have accounts that are private by default.
You have to enter your birth date to set up an account, but there's no age verification, so it's easy for kids under 13 to sign up. Common Sense Media rates Snapchat OK for teens 16 and up, mainly because of the exposure to age-inappropriate content and the marketing ploys, such as quizzes, that collect data.
TikTok requires its users to be at least 13 years old. Despite users having to be aged 13 and up the age ratings for TikTok are, a little confusingly, 12+ on Apple's App Store and "Parental Guidance Recommended" on the Google Play Store.
What is the Age Limit for TikTok? The minimum age for a TikTok user is 13 years old. While this is great news for younger users, it's important to note that TikTok doesn't use any age verification tools when new users sign up.
Zigazoo, the startup known for its TikTok-style video-sharing app for kids, is launching a separate app targeted at Gen Z users.
As kids grow up they might want more privacy and need their own space, especially if they're sharing a bedroom with a brother or sister. While it's not illegal for them to share, it's recommended that children over the age of 10 should have their own bedrooms – even if they're siblings or step-siblings.
KH: When it comes to whether a child is ready to have a boyfriend or girlfriend, parents should consider their child's maturity rather than a particular age. Typically, it's best for children under 13 not to engage in romantic relationships as they are still developing emotionally and cognitively.
There's no one age when people “should” start dating — plenty of people don't start until their late teens or after, and some people start earlier. But dating when you're 12 means something different than dating when you're in high school or older.
1 ENABLE device-level parental controls
TikTok states that the app is intended for users aged 13 years and over and has a 12+ App Store rating.
The new feature will be added to existing screen time tools. It will include a default 60-minute daily time limit for anyone 18 and under and a screen time dashboard. When the 60-minute limit is reached, notifications will be muted.
To set up screen time limits and restrict your teen's TikTok usage on browsers, visit: Google's family center for Android and Chrome. Apple's parental controls for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Safari.
Parents can learn to trust that their kids are using TikTok under the conditions they've agreed upon, and kids can learn responsibility when it comes to social media privileges. Using TikTok can also create teachable moments and foster conversations about important topics that may not come up organically otherwise.
“Ten to 12 is a great range because kids are still very connected to their parents and into their parents being in their phone and in their business,” says Catherine Pearlman, a licensed clinical social worker and author of “First Phone,” a guide for kids.
TikTok is not considered safe for children and must never be used without parental supervision. According to the app's conditions, the minimum age for using the app is 13 years. Using this app may lead to risks such as connecting with strangers, participating in dangerous challenges, and sharing personal data.
“Kids can fall in love by all developmental measures as soon as you can begin to measure their feelings,” says Carleton Kendrick, EdM, a Boston-based family therapist and author of Take Out Your Nose Ring, Honey, We're Going to Grandma's. “There's no such thing as puppy love.” Crushes are a healthy part of life.
The age in which tweens develop romantic interests in other people varies tremendously from child to child. Some kids may start expressing interest in having a boyfriend or girlfriend as early as age 10 while others are 12 or 13 before they show any interest.
First crushes may occur at any time, but generally start at around 10-13 years of age. They are an important step in developing normal and healthy romantic relationships, and provide opportunities to learn how to compromise and communicate.
It's important while I advise my clients to keep the crib as long as possible for young babies & toddlers, if you would like your 18+ month old to share a bed with their older brother/sister, that's ok!
children aged 5 to 17 shouldn't share a bedroom with a child of the opposite gender aged 4 and under. single household members aged 18 and over, and any children who aren't related need a separate bedroom.
We recommend holding off on room sharing until your younger child is at least 1 year of age.
For the uninitiated, TikTok is an app that has taken the reigns from Snapchat as one of the most popular for the tween-teen age group. Formerly a lip-syncing app called musical.ly, TikTok has evolved into a short-form (15-second) video-sharing and video-creation program with over 500 million users.
There's a TikTok alternative for younger kids
What if your younger kids have their hearts set on using TikTok? There's good news that doesn't require breaking any rules. A “younger user” section of the app allows kids under 13 in on some of the fun.
According to Pew Research, two-thirds of teens in the U.S. use TikTok. It's second only to YouTube when it comes to kids near-constant use, followed by Instagram and Snapchat.