If you click on “Privacy and safety,” you’ll quickly discover that the app defaults on “public.” You have to actually flip a switch to change it to private so you gain the control to approve who follows you, views your videos, comments, and likes.
If you’ve ever clicked around funny videos on YouTube, you know exactly what I’m talking about.īut if you really want to see where this app becomes irresponsible, just click on “Me” in the lower left corner to get to your main account page, then click the three dots on the top right of the screen to pull up the “Privacy and settings.”Īt first glance I was encouraged by what looked like multiple options to make Tik Tok a safer platform for young people, with options like “privacy and safety” and “digital wellbeing.” But honestly, these settings were weak, if not laughable. Wired Magazine calls the app a “never ending variety show,” and they’re spot on, emphasis on “never ending.” I thought I had only been on the app a few minutes when I looked at the time and realized over 30 minutes had passed. You’ll probably laugh at some of the funny original sketches, roll your eyes at others, and about every three or four sketches you’ll be reaching for the volume nob to turn off explicit language, lyrics or inappropriate humor.