TikTok strengthens digital safety, introduces new tools to protect teens

Following rising concerns about the misuse of TikTok by predators exploiting young Kenyan users, the platform has rolled out enhanced safety and well-being tools aimed at curbing harmful content and fostering healthier digital habits for teens.

The move comes in the wake of disturbing revelations including a recent BBC exposé highlighting how minors are being manipulated into live-streaming explicit content, often at the demand of digital pimps.

TikTok on Wednesday announced major key updates to its Family Pairing feature, introduced five years ago, which now offers parents greater oversight and flexibility.

Family Pairing allows parents, guardians and teens to customize their safety settings based on individual needs.

A parent or guardian can now link their TikTok account to their child’s account and set controls including:

Time Away Scheduling; Parents can set custom screen-free periods, including school hours and bedtime. While teens can request extra time, the final decision remains with the parents.

Expanded Family Visibility; Guardians can view who their teens follow and who follows them, and can block accounts if necessary. This aims to spark open discussions about online interactions.

Proactive Reporting Alerts; Soon, teens will be able to notify a trusted adult whenever they report a video, even without enabling Family Pairing, encouraging ongoing conversations about online safety.

New Wind-Down Feature; Teens under 16 using TikTok past 10pm will receive full-screen prompts with calming music, nudging them to log off and prioritize rest.

These features complement over multiple customizable settings already available under Family Pairing, making it one of the most comprehensive digital well-being toolkits currently offered by a social media platform.

The introduction of these measures comes at a time when parents, child rights organizations, and Kenyan lawmakers have been urging stricter content moderation.

Just last week, Senators Hezena Lemaletian and Godfrey Osotsi raised alarm over the lack of clear regulations to protect minors from digital exploitation, criticizing both social media platforms and government bodies for inadequate enforcement mechanisms.

“This is not just about technology; it’s about the lives and futures of our children,” Senator Lemaletian remarked. “We need platforms to take full responsibility for age verification and content moderation.”

Beyond parental controls, TikTok also noted that it is doubling down on its local safety initiatives through its #SaferTogether campaign.

Since 2023, the campaign has run in partnership with digital safety organization Eveminet, whose main aim is to promote digital safety and well-being through equipping and empowering children and the youth.

However, child rights advocates stress that technology alone cannot solve the problem. They continue to call on the Kenyan government to collaborate with social media companies, implement stricter internet usage regulations, and ensure that ICT regulators have the necessary expertise to keep up with the evolving digital landscape.

As the digital age unfolds, the responsibility is on both platform providers and policymakers to ensure that Kenya’s youth can explore the online world safely without becoming victims of exploitation.