Is TikTok safe to use? How to change privacy and security settings on the video sharing app

As life under lockdown continues, lots of people across the UK are turning to the internet to keep themselves amused.

From Instagram challenges to Twitter trends, and video chatting apps, there are plenty of ways to stay sane and connected online.

One activity that has gained popularity during lockdown - especially among children - is TikTok dance routines and other challenges.

But for parents who don’t know much about it, what is TikTok - and is it safe to use?

What is TikTok?

For those who have no idea what TikTok is, it’s a social media app that people use to share videos of themselves - usually lip syncing to a song or a scene from a movie, or sharing a dance routine. Some users also use the app to film comedy sketches too.

The app originally went by the name Music.ly, but rebranded in August 2018.

For lots of people, the platform provides a fun space to be creative. Tik Tok’s editing features make it easy for kids to stitch together fun clips and share their videos, either with a select circle of friends, or the wider TikTok user base.

Various trends and challenges pop up from time to time, in particular dancing challenges like the Git Up challenge and the Renegade.

Is it safe to use?

As with any app, it’s important for parents to monitor what their children can see and do on Tik Tok.

While most of the content on the app is harmless, there is always a darker side to an app that stores some potentially inappropriate content.