Child Age Checks on Social Media

I recently had a worried parent bring their child's laptop in for a computer repair , concerned about the amount of time spent on TikTok. We see this a lot - parents wanting to protect their children from online harm. What are the Current Age Checks on TikTok? TikTok currently relies on users to input their age when creating an account. However, we'd recommend being cautious, as it's easy for children to misrepresent their age. Why are Age Checks Important? Age checks are crucial in ensuring children are not exposed to inappropriate content or contacted by strangers. As part of our home IT support , we advise parents to monitor their child's online activity and adjust settings accordingly. Alternative Social Media Options for Children Some alternative social media platforms have more stringent age checks in place, such as requiring parental consent. We'd recommend exploring these options for younger children. How to Protect Your Child on Social Media To protect your child, we'd suggest setting up parental controls, monitoring their online activity, and having open conversations about online safety. Our cyber security services can also provide guidance on keeping your child safe online. In terms of costs, implementing robust age checks can be a significant investment for social media companies, with estimated costs ranging from £50,000 to £500,000 or more, depending on the complexity of the system. However, we believe it's essential for ensuring children's safety online. Not s