What is 18+ Content on TikTok?
TikTok classifies any content containing adult themes, violence, illegal activities, sexually suggestive material, or other mature subjects as 18+ content. This type of content is age-restricted and only visible to users 18 years old or older.
Specifically, 18+ content on TikTok may include:
- Nudity, though only in an artistic or educational context.
- Recreational drug references or imagery, if not promoting drug use.
- Mild violence, if not glorifying harm.
- Profane language, if not used excessively.
- References to sexual acts, if not graphic or lewd.
However, TikTok prohibits overtly sexual acts, pornographic material, gratuitous gore or violence, illegal drug promotion, and dangerous or illegal content. This type of mature content can result in a permanent ban.
Overall, TikTok aims to restrict mature subjects from underage users while allowing for creative expression from adult creators.
Why TikTok Uses Age Restrictions
TikTok uses age restrictions in order to protect minors from viewing inappropriate or mature content on the platform. According to TikTok’s user safety page, Restricted Mode limits exposure to content that may contain mature or complex themes that may not be suitable for all audiences.
TikTok states that “Restricted Mode helps limit potential exposure to mature content.” This allows parents to feel more assured about what types of videos their teenage and young users may encounter when browsing TikTok.
In addition to protecting minors, age restrictions on TikTok also help the platform comply with regulations. As a social media company operating globally, TikTok must abide by local laws regarding age-appropriate content and child safety online. Using age gates and restrictions helps demonstrate TikTok’s commitment to being a responsible social platform.
How to Enable 18+ Content Access
To enable 18+ content on TikTok for your account, you need to change your account settings to allow mature content. Here are the steps:
- Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right.
- Tap on the three line menu icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings and privacy” from the menu.
- Tap on “Content preferences.”
- Toggle “Restricted mode” to off.
Restricted mode filters out content in the app that may be inappropriate for some audiences, including 18+ content. Turning it off allows mature content to be shown.
To verify your age and fully disable restrictions, you’ll also need to upload a photo ID. On the Content Preferences screen, tap “Upload ID” and follow the prompts to submit a photo of your valid ID to confirm you are over 18.
According to TikTok’s support site, users under 18 cannot disable Restricted Mode.
Considerations Before Enabling
There are some important factors to consider before enabling 18+ content access on TikTok for a child or teen user:
Exposure to inappropriate content – Once 18+ restrictions are removed, users may be exposed to more mature content including violence, sexual material, drug use, and offensive language that may not be suitable for minors (TikTok Youth Safety Guidelines). TikTok’s algorithms can promote this type of content through recommendations, so caution is advised.
Data privacy concerns – TikTok collects large amounts of data from users which raises privacy issues, especially for younger audiences (Amnesty International). Consider whether a child is old enough to make informed decisions about sharing personal data online.
What Content is Blocked for Minors
TikTok uses age restrictions and Restricted Mode to limit exposure to certain types of content for users under 18. This includes:
- Explicit language – Curse words, offensive terms, sexual references
- Violence – Graphic fights, dangerous stunts, illegal acts
- Nudity and sexuality – Revealing clothing, suggestive dancing, sexual topics
- Mature/adult content – Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling
- Sensitive subjects – Politics, social issues, tragic events
Some examples of hashtags and content that would be blocked for minors include:
- #NSFW
- #420
- #stripper
- #oneNightStand
Restricted Mode aims to create a more age-appropriate experience, while still allowing creators to freely express themselves. But ultimately, it’s impossible to block all potentially inappropriate content. So additional parental guidance is still encouraged.
How TikTok Detects Age
TikTok uses two primary methods to estimate a user’s age when reviewing accounts for age verification or restrictions:
Upload ID Verification – Users can voluntarily upload a photo of their official ID to prove their age. TikTok will review the ID and use the date of birth to verify the account age. This allows users to lift restrictions if TikTok’s system has incorrectly estimated their age. According to TikTok’s support page, “They’ll use their technology to estimate your age based on the facial features in your selfie. They will then send us your age estimate and delete your selfie.”
Digital Fingerprinting Technology – TikTok uses advanced machine learning and facial recognition algorithms to analyze profile pictures and videos to estimate a user’s age. The system looks at facial features and other signals to categorize users into different age groups, flagging accounts that may belong to underage users. This allows TikTok to automatically restrict accounts for minors without requiring ID verification in all cases.
Citing TikTok’s support article on underage appeals: “Our systems use a number of signals to try to estimate age, and sometimes they get it wrong. If you feel your account has been incorrectly flagged as underage, you can record a video selfie to verify your age.”
How to Stay Safe Online
When using social media, it’s important to take precautions to protect your privacy and safety. Here are some tips to stay safe on TikTok and other platforms:
- Use privacy settings to control who can view your profile and videos. TikTok allows you to make your account private so only approved followers can see your content.
- Be cautious about sharing personal information like your full name, address, phone number, or school. Avoid sharing information that could be used to identify or locate you.
- Think carefully before posting videos that reveal your location or daily routines. Consider disabling TikTok’s geotagging feature which adds location details to your posts.
- Block users who make inappropriate comments or whose behavior concerns you. TikTok has tools to block accounts or restrict someone from interacting with your content.
- Report concerning behavior like cyberbullying, hate speech, or predatory messages. TikTok moderates content that violates community guidelines.
It’s also important to have an open dialogue with your parents about using social media safely. Tools like parental controls can help restrict inappropriate content.
TikTok’s Community Guidelines
TikTok has established Community Guidelines to help ensure a safe, trustworthy, and vibrant experience on their platform. These guidelines include rules against posting illegal, dangerous, and harmful content.
According to TikTok’s Community Guidelines, users may not post content that depicts or promotes illegal activities, including drug use, violence, underage drinking, and more. Dangerous acts and challenges that may lead to injury are also prohibited. Additionally, hateful ideologies, harassment, threats, bullying, and other harmful content is not allowed on TikTok.
If users violate the Community Guidelines, TikTok may take a number of actions. This can include removing the offending content, disabling user accounts either temporarily or permanently, and reporting content to appropriate legal authorities. The specific consequence depends on the severity of the violation.
As stated on their Community Guidelines page, “We work hard to keep our platform secure and enable our community to thrive. Our Guidelines exist to help ensure TikTok continues to spread positive creative expression.” https://www.tiktok.com/community-guidelines
Parental Control Options
TikTok offers a Family Pairing feature that allows parents to set controls and restrictions for their child’s TikTok account (TikTok Support). This includes:
- Limiting screen time – Parents can restrict daily use to 40, 60, 90 or 120 minutes per day.
- Restricting messaging – Parents can limit who can send messages to the account or turn off direct messaging completely.
- Restricting content – Parents can limit the account to only view content appropriate for ages 9 and under.
- Monitoring activity – Parents can view their child’s liked videos, commented videos, and more.
Enabling Family Pairing requires both the parent and child to have TikTok accounts. Once paired, the parent gains controls over the child’s account settings. This can help parents monitor their child’s TikTok activity and set healthy limits (TikTok Newsroom).
The Importance of Digital Literacy
In our increasingly digital world, digital literacy has become an essential skill. Digital literacy refers to the ability to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information effectively in a variety of digital contexts. When it comes to using social media platforms like TikTok responsibly, digital literacy is critical.
A key component of digital literacy is critical thinking about online content. With so much information online, it’s important to think carefully about what you see and read. Ask questions like: Who created this? What is their agenda? Is this information accurate and credible? Understanding how algorithms work is another aspect of digital literacy. The TikTok algorithm determines what content you see based on your interests and engagement. Being aware of how algorithms amplify certain content can help users make informed choices.
Digital literacy also involves balancing the risks and benefits of social media usage. While TikTok can enable creativity and connection, overuse or inappropriate content can be harmful, especially for younger users. Setting healthy limits and making thoughtful content choices are important. According to research from Adobe, developing digital literacy requires learning from mentors who can provide guidance on using social media responsibly.
With proper digital literacy, TikTok can be used safely to express creativity, learn new skills, and connect with others worldwide. Critical thinking, understanding algorithms, and balancing risks allow users to maximize benefits and minimize harm.
