TikTok is ramping up its efforts to provide enhanced safety resources for users, launching a new Digital Safety and Privacy Guide as part of Safer Internet Day 2025. With ongoing concerns about online privacy and security, particularly for younger audiences, TikTok is prioritizing user protection with a suite of new tools and educational materials designed to empower users to manage their online presence more safely.
This initiative comes at a critical time as digital safety continues to be a top concern for social media platforms, and TikTok aims to proactively address privacy and security challenges while encouraging a safer online experience.
The New Safety and Privacy Guide
TikTok’s newly launched Digital Safety and Privacy Guide is designed to provide users with an accessible, comprehensive resource to help navigate the app’s privacy and security features.
Available directly within the app, the guide can be accessed by typing “check my settings” into the TikTok search bar, followed by tapping the “learn more” banner.
This step-by-step guide walks users through essential privacy settings, such as who can see your content, who can message you, and who can comment on your posts. Additionally, the guide highlights the community controls available to users, empowering them to filter out inappropriate or harmful content.
TikTok Privacy Guide
One of the most notable features of the guide is its focus on empowering parents to protect their children’s privacy on the platform. The guide provides insights into the Teen Account settings, which offer extra protections such as stricter privacy controls, limited messaging capabilities, and more restricted content visibility.
TikTok Privacy Facts
TikTok’s efforts to enhance transparency are evident in its clear, concise explanations of the settings, giving users the tools to actively manage their online safety.
As TikTok’s Head of Trust and Safety for the U.S., Suzy Loftus, explained:
“Through this guide, we’re not only educating users on how to take control of their privacy settings, but we’re also providing a resource for parents to ensure their children are safe and protected on the app.”
Enhancing Privacy and Security with TikTok Family Pairing
A central element of TikTok’s new guide is its Family Pairing feature, designed specifically for parents. Family Pairing allows parents to monitor and control their teen’s TikTok experience, ensuring that safety measures are adhered to while still giving teens the freedom to explore the app’s creative content.
The Family Pairing tool allows parents to set limits on their child’s screen time, control who can send them messages, and filter content based on their child’s age. Parents can also set privacy settings to prevent their teen’s videos from being publicly visible. TikTok has tailored these settings to reflect the unique needs of teen users, offering additional safeguards that differ from the settings available to adults.
TikTok Family Pairing is presented as an invaluable tool for parents who want to guide their children through the complexities of social media while ensuring they are not exposed to harmful content. In the Digital Safety Guide, parents can easily learn how to enable Family Pairing and manage privacy settings to create a safer space for their teens.
TikTok’s partnership with digital safety experts, including @cathypedrayes and @mrandmrsgrit, has played a key role in raising awareness about Family Pairing and encouraging parents to explore the available tools to protect their children.
@cathypedrayes TikTok launched an easier way to manage your safety and privacy settings. Type "Check My Settings" in the search bar to find its new guide and learn about the settings I mention in the video plus others like managing who can stitch or duet your videos, adjusting who can message you, checking on things you've reported, and of course, turning on your two-factor authentication (which I hope you already have enabled!). Take a few seconds to customize your settings. 🙌 #tiktokpartner #tiktok #lifehack #tipsandtricks #digitalsafety #onlinesafety #teensafety #family #teenparent #didyouknow ♬ original sound - Cathy
Both experts have shared videos on TikTok explaining how they manage their children’s accounts, giving real-life examples of how Family Pairing can be implemented effectively.
TikTok’s Efforts to Improve Safety Year-Round
TikTok is committed to ensuring that its platform remains a safe space for all users, not just on Safer Internet Day but throughout the year. The new Digital Safety and Privacy Guide is part of a larger, ongoing effort to create a more secure environment for its community.
TikTok has invested billions in its Trust and Safety efforts, including expanding its safety teams and rolling out new AI tools that automatically detect and remove harmful content. The company has also committed to improving its content moderation systems by employing a combination of machine learning and human moderators to monitor the platform for inappropriate or harmful content.
In addition to these measures, TikTok collaborates with a wide range of fact-checking organizations to ensure that misinformation is flagged and removed. The platform also provides users with tools to report abusive comments and harmful content directly, further empowering the community to take action when necessary.
Suzy Loftus explained:
“We’ve made safety and privacy our top priorities, with a continued focus on building a platform that fosters creativity and expression while safeguarding our users. This is part of our long-term strategy to ensure that TikTok remains a positive space for everyone.”
Reaction from the TikTok Community
The launch of TikTok’s Digital Safety and Privacy Guide has been met with positive feedback from both users and experts. Parents have welcomed the additional safety tools available for managing their teen’s TikTok account, with many expressing appreciation for the ease of use and clear explanations provided in the guide.
TikTok creators have shown support for the new guide, especially the privacy controls that give them more autonomy over who can interact with their content. Some creators have shared their experiences with the new features in TikTok videos, encouraging others to explore the safety tools and ensure that their accounts are set up with the highest level of protection.
Professionals have also had their say, with prominent child safety advocates and organizations expressing their full support for these changes.
For example, John Clark, President and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said:
“We're grateful to TikTok for their leadership in prioritizing safety and education because we believe those efforts are a critical step in helping families safely navigate the online world.”
CEO and co-founder of ConnectSafely, Larry Magid, echoes Mr. Clark’s statement, saying:
“ConnectSafely believes that parents should work with their families to establish digital literacy milestones. The Family Pairing and age-based features embedded into TikTok help families build a path to safer online behavior and to become good digital citizens.“
However, some users have voiced concerns about the balance between privacy and control.
While TikTok’s transparency in providing educational resources is widely appreciated, a few critics argue that there may be an overemphasis on monitoring, potentially limiting freedom of expression. TikTok will need to continue refining these tools to ensure that user privacy is respected without stifling creative freedom.
Taking Control of Your Privacy with TikTok's Safety Guide
As TikTok celebrates Safer Internet Day, it remains committed to building a safer digital environment for all users. The launch of the Digital Safety and Privacy Guide marks a significant step in empowering users with the knowledge and tools needed to take control of their privacy settings.
By providing easy access to privacy controls, TikTok hopes to reassure both parents and users about the platform’s dedication to safety.
TikTok’s ongoing investments in Trust and Safety measures demonstrate its commitment to keeping users safe year-round. As privacy and security concerns continue to be major issues for users and regulators alike, TikTok’s proactive approach to addressing these issues sets a standard for other social media platforms to follow.
In a world where online safety is paramount, TikTok is working to ensure that its platform remains a secure, fun, and creative space for all. As Suzy Loftus summarized,
“Together, we can keep inspiring creativity and bringing joy – all while staying safe and protected online.”
