Safety rules for family and kids content on TikTok
Family videos are some of the most loved content on TikTok, and some of the riskiest. Once a video of a child is public, you cannot control where it goes, who saves it or how it is used.
What not to show
School names, uniforms with logos, your street, the outside of your house and anything that reveals a routine, such as 'every Tuesday at the park'. Bath time, changing, swimwear and other situations where a child is partly dressed.
Avoid full names and birthdays. Together with a face, they are enough to build a profile of a child.
Settings that help
Consider a private account if the audience is meant to be family and friends. On public accounts, limit who can download, duet and stitch your videos, and filter comments.
Review who follows the account from time to time and remove accounts that only follow children's content.
Think about consent
Ask older children before posting them and respect a no. Something cute at age six can be embarrassing at fourteen, and the internet does not forget.
A useful test: would you be comfortable if this video were shown at their school assembly in ten years?
TikTok's own rules
TikTok requires users to be at least 13 (with stricter limits in some countries), and accounts that appear to be run by or centred on younger children can be restricted. Keep the focus on the parent's perspective rather than the child as the star.
Frequently asked questions
What details should I keep out of videos featuring my kids?
Avoid school names, uniforms with logos, your street, the outside of your house and routines. Also skip full names and birthdays, which together with a face can build a profile of a child.
Which settings help protect family videos on a public account?
Limit who can download, duet and stitch your videos, filter comments, and regularly remove followers that only follow children's content. A private account suits family-only audiences.
How can I decide whether a video of my child is okay to post?
Ask older children and respect a no. A useful test is whether you would be comfortable seeing the video shown at their school assembly in ten years.