TikTok has been the latest social media platform to take the world by storm. With over 800 million active users worldwide, the app has been downloaded more than 2 billion times on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Tik Tok has given individuals the freedom to express their creativity like never before. Give a user 15 seconds and they’ll use it.

My experience with TikTok coincided with the UK going into lockdown earlier in the year. After putting off numerous DIY jobs around the house I would sit in the lounge and spend what I thought was 10 minutes looking at TikTok (It wasn’t 10 minutes, it was an hour)

With millions of creative individuals filling my time I was instantly hooked on this platform. Which is why we would like to help you keep safe and secure whilst you are TikToking, is that a word? Let’s go with it anyway. 

TikTok Security 101

So, the most important aspect of any social media application is how secure you or your children are whilst using the app. Firstly, under TikTok’s user agreement no one under the age of 13 should be using this app. Stating on their website:

“Who is TikTok intended for? TikTok is intended for users age 13 and over. Please do not allow a child under the age of 13 to use the app. If you learn that your child under the age of 13 has registered for a TikTok account, you may alert us at [email protected]”

If your child has/is using the app you can get more information from the TikTok team here.

Two-Factor Authentication

The majority of social networks have some form of two-factor authentication. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all support this and you can download an authentication app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Personally, I would recommend Authy or Google Authenticator. Keep an eye on our social channels for our upcoming blog about how to use these.

Unfortunately, TikTok does not support 2FA apps, they only support sending one-time codes via your email address or phone number. These are far from the most reliable source of 2FA. On the plus side, however, if someone discovers your password they will not be able to access your account without these one-time codes.

Is Someone Using Your Account?

I may speak for the majority of users, but most households no longer have one shared computer that everyone uses. Does anyone remember fighting your sibling so you can use MSN? Am I showing my age yet? Anyway, I digress. If on the off chance you have logged into your account on someone else’s device, you can check to see where you are logged in.

• Open the TikTok app
• Tap me, then security
• Tap ‘Your Devices’

Here you can see where you are logged in and if you do not recognise a device you can log out from here and as a precaution, if you do not recognise a login, we would recommend you changing your password.

Making Profiles Private

The vast majority of social media users these days are all about keeping their content private. Unless you are an influencer you only really want people, you know to view your content. At least I do anyway. To make sure that your TikTok account is private follow these steps.

• Open the TikTok app
• Tap me, then the 3 dots in the top right-hand corner
• Then go to ‘Privacy and Safety’
• At the top of the list, you can toggle on or off the private account setting.

I Don’t Want To Be Recommended

By default, most social networks will recommend you to ‘people you may know’ TikTok is no exception. If their algorithm determines that you may know an individual you will be recommended to them. Even if your account is set to private. If you want this turned off then you will have to follow these steps.

• Open the TikTok app
• Tap me, then the 3 dots in the top right-hand corner
• Then go to ‘Privacy and Safety’
• Then the second option down is ‘Suggest your account to others’

Turning this off will no longer suggest you to anyone on TikTok Of course, our aim isn’t to spoil the fun and creativity that TikTok allows you to have. We simply want to make sure that you, your children, and your information remain safe. These few security checks are not mandatory and are your choice if you would like to carry them out.

Happy TikToking!