A short Tiktok profile
What is Tiktok? Basically, it's about recording short videos and then editing them either with your own sound or sound provided by the app, adding effects and publishing them. These can be dances, sketches, tips and tricks or scenes from your own life. You need an account for this, as with any social medium.
Who owns Tiktok? In 2017, the Chinese company Beijing Bytedance Technology bought the video platform Musical.ly. After the renaming, all of its users were migrated to Tiktok.
Who uses Tiktok? Today, around 800 million predominantly young people worldwide use Tiktok at least once a month. According to last year's James Study, 80 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds in Switzerland have a Tiktok account. However, Tiktok is now also being used by an increasing number of «older» users (Gen Y).
From what age is Tiktok allowed? Apple and Google allow the app for users aged 13 and over with parental consent. However, there is no age check when registering.
What parents should know:
The algorithm learns very quickly and specifically what the user likes and provides corresponding content. This is why the potential for addiction is quite high. Parents should determine the duration of use with their children.
Users should be careful what content they reveal about themselves and how they present themselves on the platform. The clips are shared widely on public profiles and can - even unintentionally - achieve reach very quickly.
I recommend watching the app together regularly at the beginning, especially with younger teenagers, and discussing why the child likes or dislikes a clip. And how the person is portrayed in the clip. If the child wants to create content themselves: Be sure to start with a private profile and discuss together how the content is likely to be received by others, and then monitor this.
However, the app is not only problematic: in general, it offers easy access to self-creation of content. It is a practical tool for young people to express their creativity and try their hand at video editing.
