Teens and TikTok, TikTok and teens. They seem all but inseparable, yet many parents have serious concerns about the social media app. With the app banned on government devices in all fifty states, it’s no surprise that parents might question TikTok’s safety for their teens. There are very real fears that the Chinese-owned app could be used to collect sensitive data, while hours spent doomscrolling can’t possibly be beneficial for young minds.
In spite of these valid concerns, parents can only imagine the distress their teens would surely experience, cut off from their virtual world. For teens, TikTok is more than entertainment—it’s their place of social connection—and it’s where their friends are. Seen in this light, parents may be hesitant to issue a blanket ban on TikTok.
Indeed, ongoing open dialogue between parents and teens about internet safety and the dangers of TikTok is a better, if not easier, solution. That requires talking together about what it means to be safe online. This may seem like an awful lot of work—more so than simply laying down the law about TikTok, but it’s only an illusion. Dealing with teenage tantrums is no fun. Nor is policing teens who, banned from what they see as their life’s blood, will inevitably sneak around and use TikTok on the sly.
Teens and TikTok: Parental Concerns
At the very least, parents concerned about TikTok and its effects on children can take comfort: they are not alone. According to research by Security.org, a significant 50% of U.S. parents believe that a ban on TikTok would make their kids safer online, while two-thirds feel that legislative measures are needed to protect minors from the risks of social media overall.
Some other key findings:
- 25% of parents consider TikTok to be the most dangerous social media platform for children, citing inappropriate content and its potential influence on behavior.
- 86% of parents support laws requiring children under 18 to obtain parental permission before joining social media platforms.
- 84% support laws that would grant them complete access to their children’s social media accounts.
- 85% feel that schools should be required to teach children about social media safety.
- Nine out of ten parents want to restrict social media companies from collecting personal data from minors.
These statistics tell us that parents want more transparency and protection for their children in the online world. At the same time, when it comes to TikTok, Dr. Erika Dawkins, a clinical psychologist and professor at Widener University, believes that parents should think twice before slapping a ban on it. The way Dawkins sees it, TikTok is more than just a social media app—for many young people it’s a vital platform for expression. For young creators, in particular those from marginalized backgrounds, TikTok provides a way to share their stories and cultures. Banning TikTok would, in a sense, silence their voices and cut off a crucial support network for kids who find community there.
Taking Their TikTok Away
Dawkins points out that TikTok isn’t simple entertainment, it’s also a platform for fostering social connections. Teens on TikTok have bonded over shared interests. Taking their TikTok away means isolating them from their friends—it’s like cutting off their lifeline.
Dr. Dawkins suggests that when it comes to TikTok and other social media platforms, balance is better than a total ban. Parents, says Dawkins, should guide teens rather than dictate their choices. Open dialogue is the way to go.
Talking with their parents can help teens explore their “personal why” for using these platforms, says Dawkins. After all, the goal is to guide them, not dictate their choices. “You can be their friend and their parent—but not their therapist,” she says. “Being authoritative without being dictatorial is important, as is offering space for self-discovery.”
It’s all about striking that balance between support and guidance.
TikTok Reels and “Dopamine Loops”
Taylor Wilson works directly with children and families navigating digital dependence. A child psychologist and the founder of Active Recovery Companions, Wilson tells us that one of the most worrying aspects of the social media app is the way very short TikTok reels create dopamine loops. Every time kids scroll and see something entertaining, their brains release dopamine, which makes them want to keep scrolling for more. This constant drive to scroll can make it difficult for them to focus on things like their schoolwork or even spending quality time with family and—real, as opposed to virtual— friends.
Further complicating matters, says Wilson, TikTok’s algorithm promotes unrealistic beauty standards and social comparisons, leaving young users vulnerable to psychological fallout. As they browse through highly edited photos and videos, teens can struggle with body image issues and may find themselves battling feelings of anxiety and depression. Parents should not underestimate the extent to which social media can distort a teen’s self-esteem.
Another significant concern noted by Wilson is the way in which children’s self-worth often becomes tied to numbers—the likes, shares, and views on their posts. This dependency on external validation can lead to social anxiety, making face-to-face interactions feel even more daunting. Teens may find themselves questioning their own value based on their online popularity (or lack of same), which can hinder their resilience and ability to form genuine connections.
Dangerous TikTok Trends
TikTok also exposes children to harmful challenges and risky behaviors, says Wilson. Teens might feel pressured to participate in dangerous trends, from extreme dieting to viral challenges that could cause severe injury, and may even prove fatal.
Wilson believes that while parents can monitor screen time, it’s equally important to foster open conversations about online influences. By encouraging discussions about what they see and helping them to develop digital literacy, parents can empower teens to build self-awareness and resilience in the face of any challenges they may meet online.
Elizabeth Hines, a psychologist at Academized, is concerned with the effect of TikTok on the cognitive and emotional development of teens. “TikTok serves as a creative space for kids but poses substantial difficulties for them. The non-stop stream of video content targets the attention of young people and prevents them from building concentration and self-discipline skills. When users repeatedly view polished and curated content it can lead to feelings of comparison and self-doubt and also cause anxiety.”
Teens and TikTok Time Limits
Hines advises parents to get involved and take a hands-on approach to their children’s social media use. “Parents need to actively shape their children’s TikTok use towards safer practices rather than simply giving or denying access. While establishing screen time limits for their kids, parents need to talk about online safety and teach self-worth. Sit with your children as they watch videos to help them build critical thinking abilities about the content they consume. Evaluate your child’s emotional development level before they start using social media platforms. Help kids see TikTok as an entertaining learning tool and creative outlet rather than a metric that defines their worth,” says Hines.
Dr. Ran Anbar talks about the effects of social media on teens in his recently published book, The Life Guide for Teens: Harnessing Your Inner Power to be Healthy, Happy, and Confident. Doomscrolling, Anbar says, affects most of the teens he sees. “Studies tell us more than half of young adults engage in doomscrolling—spending tons of time reading digital content (especially negative content) on their phones and other devices. In my experience working with thousands of teens, this is or has been a problem for most of them.
“This energy-draining habit sometimes starts out of boredom. Other times, teens use it as a way of calming themselves. They may seek to disconnect from the day-to-day world, find information about how things work, prepare themselves for worst case scenarios, or keep up with what friends (and even strangers) are posting on social media,” says Anbar.
TikTok Doomscrolling and Lack of Sleep
Once kids get sucked into doomscrolling, they lose track of time, says Anbar. “This prevents them from participating in healthier activities, such as in-person social interactions, exercise that can strengthen their mental and physical health, learning new skills, and even sleep. In fact, the vast majority of teens sleep 7 hours a night or less, rather than the 8-10 hours that they need. This lack of sleep is known to be associated with the development of increased teen anxiety, depression, and suicidality.”
TikTok is aware that parents are freaking out about all that doomscrolling, and has implemented what it calls a “wind down” feature to remind teens to take a break. The app takes over the computer screen, plays relaxing music, and suggests teens do a breathing exercise. If teens ignore the takeover screen and continue to doomscroll, TikTok puts up a second screen that’s not as easy to get rid of. Will it make a difference?
“I don’t think a break would dissuade them from resuming their doomscrolling any more than taking a short break from other unhealthy activities would prevent their resumption,” says Dr. Anbar, who says TikTok could do a lot more to help regulate teens behavior on the app. “Steps TikTok could take to make teens safer include limiting the daily time they can use the app to an hour; offering teens the option to be shown an equal balance of positive and negative news; offering an option to be shown an equal balance of political or social views; and offering to label certain videos as ‘educational’ or ‘public service’ and ensuring that these videos account for a large percentage of the content presented on TikTok.”
Do Bans Work?
What can parents do if they think that TikTok use is harming their teenage children? Dr. Anbar says there’s no point in imposing a ban on internet content, as this will only cause resentment and alienate teens from their parents. In any event, a ban won’t stop the doomscrolling, as teens will always find a way to get around any parental embargo on TikTok use.
“Instead,” says Anbar. “I think it’s important that parents treat their children with respect and explain the problems of excessive TikTok use. When approached calmly, most teens will acknowledge that doomscrolling can be a problem, and then a discussion can ensue regarding how they might moderate their use. Younger teens may explain that they have difficulties controlling their impulsiveness when using their electronics. Some will willingly accept limitations on their use, such as putting smartphones and devices somewhere outside their room at bedtime. Other teens will agree to limit their use of social media to half an hour once or twice daily.”
Scott Parker is the CEO of Social Factor, a social intelligence, strategy, and technology company. He’s also the concerned father of a teenage boy. What exactly are this father’s concerns?
Inappropriate TikTok Content
For one thing, he doesn’t want his 14-year-old son to watch pornography on TikTok. But that’s not Parker’s sole concern. “I also worry about my son’s—really all children’s—exposure to extreme ideas, whether that’s political, racial, sexual, etc. On TikTok, by way of the algorithm, kids can get served up content parents like me may consider inappropriate without us knowing a thing about it. To get visibility, we’d need to have eyes on the child’s feed. This is, of course, is easier said than done.”
Parker also worries about what his son might put out there on TikTok. Once the genie’s out of the bottle, that’s it. That content is out there forever. People have been canceled or lost a job opp because of a tweet from a gazillion years ago. No parent wants a child to be haunted by a thoughtless, reckless post forever. “One day they’re going to be 24, 44, etc. so very well it could follow them in life,” says Parker.
Major Cybersecurity Concerns
Gyan Chawdhary, cybersecurity solutions expert and vice president of Kontra, has spent years analyzing digital threats, from data privacy risks to foreign influence operations. “TikTok,” says he, “is more than just a social media app—it’s a geopolitical flashpoint with major cybersecurity implications. While I understand the appeal of its entertainment value, the risks it poses, particularly regarding data security and political influence, can’t be ignored.”
Chawdhary outlines the cybersecurity implications of TikTok as follows:
Cybersecurity and National Security Concerns
TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been scrutinized for potential risks associated with data privacy and national security. The primary concerns include:
- Data Collection and Access: TikTok collects extensive user data, including location information, device details, and browsing history. Given China’s National Intelligence Law, which compels companies to cooperate with state intelligence efforts, there’s a valid fear that the Chinese government could access this data. (CSIS)
- Influence Operations: Beyond data collection, TikTok’s vast user base makes it a powerful tool for spreading propaganda or misinformation. Reports indicate that TikTok accounts linked to Chinese state entities have targeted U.S. political candidates, attempting to shape public opinion. (Politico)
Impact on Democratic Processes
TikTok’s influence on political discourse, especially among younger generations, is undeniable:
- Algorithmic Influence: The app’s recommendation algorithm creates personalized content feeds, which can lead to echo chambers. This limits exposure to diverse perspectives and may contribute to political polarization. (The Verge)
- Misinformation Dissemination: TikTok’s rapid content-sharing makes it easy for false or misleading information to spread, which can influence voter perceptions. (Brookings)
Global Responses and Measures
In response to these concerns, governments worldwide have taken action:
- Government Bans: Countries like the U.S., Canada, and India have restricted TikTok on government devices, and Albania recently initiated a one-year ban due to security and youth violence concerns. (Reuters)
- Legislative Actions: In the U.S., bipartisan efforts have aimed to regulate or ban TikTok, reflecting concerns about its potential national security threats. (CSIS)
TikTok: Both Fun and Addictive
“I get it—TikTok is fun, addictive, and a creative outlet for millions,” concedes Chawdhary. “But as someone who’s seen how cybersecurity threats evolve, I also see the red flags. The risks to privacy, national security, and democratic integrity are real. Governments, users, and tech companies need to find a balance between digital freedom and security. Whether that means tighter regulations, data localization, or outright bans is a debate we can’t afford to ignore.”
When it comes to teens and TikTok, it seems, there’s not much parents can do to stop their kids from using the app. Place an outright ban on TikTok and teens will only find a way to get around their parents and use the app without their knowledge. It’s infinitely better for parents to stay in the loop, and know what’s going on with their teens and TikTok use, than to have their kids sneaking around behind their backs.
What parents should instead do about their teens and TikTok is to begin an ongoing, frank and open discussion with their children about internet and user safety. Such conversations offer parents a chance to outline their concerns to their kids in a nonthreatening manner. Discussion with their parents also gives teens a chance to talk about what they get out of TikTok and how they feel about the online app. These insights can only help parents guide their children toward more responsible use of a popular medium that doesn’t seem to be disappearing from teenage screens, anytime soon.
About Varda Epstein
Varda Meyers Epstein serves as editor in chief of Kars4Kids Parenting. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Varda is the mother of 12 children and is also a grandmother of 12. Her work has been published in The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Learning Site, The eLearning Site, and Internet4Classrooms.
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