TikTok is a popular short-form video app that allows users to create, share, and view 15-60 second videos. Launched in 2016 and owned by ByteDance, it has seen tremendous growth and now has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide (https://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/stats/tiktok-statistics.html). TikTok is especially popular among Gen Z, with 67% of its global audience between the ages of 16 and 24.
On TikTok, users can easily change their displayed age in their profile settings. This allows people to show a different age than their actual age if they wish. Some reasons people may want to change their displayed age include to appear older or younger, avoid age-restricted content, or distance an old account from their current identity. While TikTok allows users to modify their age, there are some risks and ethical concerns associated with representing your age inaccurately online.
Why You Might Want to Change Your Age
Some TikTok users want to change their displayed age for various reasons. Here are some of the most common motivations:
To access age-restricted content or features – TikTok requires users to be aged 13 or older. Some younger users may change their age to bypass this restriction and access content meant for older audiences. TikTok also has some features that are only available for adult users over 18 or 21. Changing your age can unlock those features.
To better protect privacy if actual age seems identifying – Displaying your real age on your profile could make you identifiable in some cases. For example, if you are the only 13 year old in your local area using TikTok. Changing it to an older, less identifying age could help protect your privacy and anonymity.
TikTok’s Age Policies
TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account and use the app. This is in accordance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which prohibits online services from knowingly collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.
TikTok has several age-based restrictions in place for younger users between the ages of 13-15:
- Users ages 13-15 have private accounts by default. This means only approved followers can view their content.
- Users ages 13-15 cannot livestream, with livestreams by default disabled for this age group.
- The comment section on videos by 13-15 year olds is limited. Only approved followers can comment.
- Users ages 13-15 have restricted access to search. Search results are limited to content appropriate for younger users.
- Additional restrictions are placed on messaging features for users 13-15 to limit communication with unknown accounts.
Once a user turns 16, some of these restrictions are lifted. 16 and 17 year olds can enable public accounts, livestream, allow open commenting, and access unrestricted search on TikTok.
TikTok uses the birthdate users enter when signing up to determine applicable age-based restrictions. However, the platform does not verify age other than requiring users to assert they are over 13.
How to Change Your Age on TikTok
TikTok allows users to change their age, but there is no option to do it directly within the app. The only way to update your age on TikTok is to contact customer support.
According to How-To Geek, here are the steps to change your age on TikTok:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page.
- Tap the 3-line menu button in the upper right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy”.
- Tap “Report a problem”.
- Choose the option “My account and profile”.
- Select “Other account issues”.
- Tap “Age incorrectly set”.
- Enter your email and explain that you need to update your age.
Once you submit the request, TikTok support will contact you. They will likely ask for a photo ID to verify your age before updating it. The process may take a few days for support to get back to you.
According to Android Authority, there are a couple limitations to note:
- You cannot change your birthday, only your age.
- There are restrictions on how often you can change your age. TikTok may reject requests that seem suspicious.
Considerations Before Changing Your Age
There are some important considerations to keep in mind before deciding to change your age on TikTok.
First, there is the possibility of having your account suspended if caught misrepresenting your age. TikTok’s Community Guidelines prohibit providing false information and fake accounts. If TikTok determines you have changed your age against their policies, your account could potentially be banned.
Second, the ability to change your age back may be limited. Once you change your birth date, you may not be able to modify it again or revert back to your original age. This is an important point, as you may be stuck at an age you didn’t intend to stay at permanently.
Third, changing your age can impact the recommendations you see in your feed. TikTok’s algorithm tailors content based on age, so altering your age means you may see different videos than appropriate for your actual age. It’s important to consider how changing your age can affect the content you consume on TikTok.
Overall, think carefully about the implications before deciding to change your birth date. While it may provide access to certain features, doing so comes with risks like account suspension, irreversible changes, and impacts on recommendations that are worth considering beforehand.
Tips for Changing Your Age Successfully
When attempting to change your age on TikTok, it’s important to be strategic in order to increase your chances of success. Here are some tips:
Choose a realistic age. Don’t claim to be significantly older or younger than you actually are. TikTok’s systems may flag large age discrepancies between your stated age and your appearance or behavior in videos. Select an age that is reasonably believable based on your looks and maturity level. For example, if you’re 16, claim to be 18 rather than 25.
Be consistent with other social media. Make sure the age you choose matches what you’ve listed on other platforms like Instagram, Facebook, YouTube etc. If the ages are drastically different across sites, that’s a red flag to TikTok that your age may be inaccurate. Maintaining consistency makes your stated age seem more legit.
By following these tips, you’re more likely to successfully change your age in TikTok’s system without getting flagged or banned. However, there’s never a guarantee of success, so change your age at your own risk.
Alternative Options
If you are concerned about the ethics or risks of changing your age on TikTok, there are some alternative options to consider:
Using a parent or guardian’s account – If you are under the minimum age requirement for TikTok, you could create an account using a parent or legal guardian’s information. This allows you to access TikTok safely and legally with their supervision. Just be sure the parent is aware and actively monitoring the account.
Simply not stating your age – TikTok’s default setting does not show your age publicly. So you can use the platform without actively lying about your age. Just avoid stating it in your bio or videos. Of course, this means you may still view content meant for older audiences.
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The Ethics of Changing Your Age Online
Changing your age on social media platforms like TikTok raises some ethical considerations that users should be aware of. According to research, social media terms and conditions often fail to obtain adequate informed consent from minors, meaning they may not fully understand the risks involved with having an online presence at a young age (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8103294/). There is an ethical duty to ensure children are of a suitable age to consent to using social media and comprehend potential harms.
Some of the risks of misrepresenting age online include exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, predatory messages from adults, and overuse that can negatively impact mental health and schoolwork. The motivations for changing one’s age on TikTok are often to access content limited to older users or boost visibility in feeds filtered by age. However, bypassing age restrictions violates the platform’s terms and diminishes needed protections for minors.
While the desire for increased autonomy is developmentally normal for teens, proper digital parenting and buy-in around age-appropriate social media use is preferable to deception. Overall, the ethical path entails respecting and understanding the reasons for age limits, not looking for loopholes. Open communication about online safety for minors is key.
The Bottom Line
In summary, while it is possible to change your age on TikTok, there are a few key points to keep in mind:
- TikTok requires users to be at least 13 years old to create an account.
- Changing your age can allow you to bypass age restrictions, but may be against TikTok’s terms of service.
- To change your age, you’ll need to delete your account and sign up again with a different birthdate.
- Consider whether you truly need to change your age or if there are better alternatives.
- Be mindful of legal and ethical concerns before misrepresenting your age online.
If you decide to change your age on TikTok, do so carefully. Avoid drastically altering your age, use an age appropriate display name and profile photo, and don’t mislead others about your real age. And remember – while some age restrictions may seem silly, they exist to protect younger users. Changing your age to bypass them comes with risks.
Sources
This article was written based on the personal experience and expertise of the author regarding social media platforms like TikTok. Additional information on TikTok’s terms of service and community guidelines were referenced from TikTok’s official website. The author also conducted independent research on best practices and ethics related to self-representation and disclosure online. However, no direct sources were cited within the article text.