The latest TikTok trend involving warnings of potential violence at schools may have parents wondering how can they get a handle on their children’s social media usage. Experts say it’s not easy.
After a slew of vague, anonymous shooting and bomb threats went viral this week, school districts across the U.S. issued warnings, beefed up security and, in some cases, canceled classes.
No major effects resulted, but this is just the most recent social media-related predicament parents have found themselves – and their children – caught up in.
With several TikTok-connected incidents lately – including “challenges” to slap teachers and vandalize schools – parents may be wondering what they can and should do to keep track of what their kids are being exposed to on social media.
For starters, you want to know if your child is using an app such as TikTok, which has more than one billion users already. The short-form video app has a curated version for users under the age of 13 (new users must pass through an age gate to use the app). For those aged 13-15, TikTok defaults accounts to private and users must approve followers and allow comments.
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But many kids who are younger do use the app, including the 8-year-old daughter of Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, North Kardashian, who this week started a live video…