Apps

The Global Youth Council is Announced by TikTok to address concerns about teens online safety

In an effort to improve online safety for teenagers, TikTok is going to introduce a global Youth Council. In order to make the app safer and more inclusive, the council will work in collaboration with experts. The announcement was made in response to research that indicated parents and teenagers needed to talk more openly about online safety. Just 50% of teenagers in the UK discuss internet platforms with their parents on a monthly basis, and many stay away of touchy subjects like body image.

The Youth Council will submit tis feedback on Youth Portal and reporting tools regarding the well-being of teens. Resources like Safety Center with guidelines about bullying and body image are also offered by TikTok. These resources are used by a million users every month. TikTok encourages new users over 35 to sign up for Family Pairing in order to foster parental involvement. Throughout this year, TikTok will release ten in-app media literacy campaigns.

A TikTok representative mentioned that feedback from teens and parents is quite necessary for safety work. A member of the Youth Council showed enthusiasm about developing a safer app and encouraging interpersonal understanding.

Input from the Youth Council is vital, according to experts like Carolyn Bunting of Internet Matters. The study also emphasizes the importance of educating parents and teenagers on current safety measures. In-app communications and the promotion of media literacy initiatives are two ways TikTok intends to solve this.