What Are Age Protected Posts on TikTok?
Age protected posts on TikTok are posts that have restrictions applied so that only users above a certain age can view them. When a post is age protected, users who are under the age restriction will see a message saying “This post is age-protected” and will not be able to view the video or see any of the content.
Creators on TikTok can choose to make individual posts age protected. This is done through the app’s privacy settings. Creators may want to age protect certain posts if they contain mature content, sensitive topics, or content not suitable for younger audiences. Age protecting can help ensure videos reach the target audience and prevent younger viewers from accessing inappropriate content (TikTok, n.d.).
Overall, age protected posts allow creators more control over who sees their content. They are one of the tools TikTok offers to restrict access based on age and maturity level.
Why Posts Get Age Protected
There are several reasons why a post on TikTok may become age protected:
Sensitive content – If a video contains violent, sexually explicit, or otherwise mature content, TikTok may automatically restrict it for users under 18. This is to comply with regulations and prevent exposing minors to inappropriate material (source).
Copyright claims – If a post uses copyrighted material like music, images, or video without permission, the copyright holder can request it be age restricted. TikTok will comply to avoid legal issues (source).
Community flagging – Users can report content they believe violates TikTok’s community guidelines. If enough flags are received, TikTok may age restrict the post pending review (source).
Account restrictions – If an account receives multiple violations or complaints, TikTok may age restrict all of that user’s content as a penalty (source).
Automated moderation – TikTok uses AI to scan posts for banned content or high-risk material. The automated system may age restrict posts it deems potentially inappropriate (source).
Requirements for Age Protected Posts
In order for a post to be age protected on TikTok, there are a few requirements that need to be met:
First, you must be at least 13 years old to make an age protected post on TikTok. The age protected setting is not available for users under 13 according to TikTok’s community guidelines.
You also need to make sure you have the latest version of the TikTok app installed. TikTok occasionally releases updates that affect features like age protected posts, so having an outdated version of the app could cause problems.
Finally, you have to be logged into your TikTok account. The age protected setting is only available when you are logged in as the creator of the post. If you are viewing TikTok while logged out, you will not see the option to enable age protection.
As long as your account meets these requirements – being 13+, having an updated app version, and being logged in – you should be able to make use of the age protected post feature without issues.
How to Make a Post Age Protected
Making a post age protected on TikTok is easy to do directly within the app. Here is a step-by-step guide:
-
Open the TikTok app and go to your profile page. Tap on the video you want to make age protected.
-
Tap on the three dots in the bottom right corner to open the sharing menu.
-
Select “Age Protect” from the menu.
-
A pop-up will appear explaining what age protecting a post means. Tap “Turn On” to confirm.
-
The video will now have a shield icon on it signifying it is age protected. Only users 13+ will be able to view it.
And that’s it! The video is now age protected. You can repeat these steps for any other videos you want to age protect on your TikTok profile.
To remove the age protection in the future, simply follow the same steps but tap “Turn Off” when the pop-up appears.
Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Fix-Age-Protection-on-Tiktok
How to Remove Age Protection
If you want to remove age protection from your posts on TikTok, here are the steps to follow:
1. Open the TikTok app and tap on your profile icon in the bottom right corner.
2. Tap on the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and select “Settings”.
3. Scroll down and tap on “Digital Wellbeing”.
4. Toggle off “Restricted Mode” to disable age protection on your posts.
Restricted Mode is what enables age protection on your content. Turning it off will remove any age restrictions applied to your posts automatically (source: https://support.tiktok.com/en/safety-hc/account-and-user-safety/user-safety).
Once you have Restricted Mode disabled, your posts will no longer have age protection and can be viewed by all users.
Tips for Age Protecting Posts
When deciding whether to age protect a post, consider the content carefully. Age protecting is best used for more mature topics that may not be appropriate for younger users. Here are some tips for using the feature effectively:
Choose age protecting for posts discussing complex or nuanced issues that younger viewers may misunderstand or take out of context. For example, posts about mental health, relationships, social issues, etc. could benefit from age protection.
Use age protection if you want to limit your audience for a particular post. This allows you to share content broadly while restricting younger viewers.
Consider age protecting giveaways or contests with age restrictions. This prevents confusion and disappointment if younger fans try to enter.
Keep in mind age protection limits your audience reach. Use it judiciously for posts you feel warrant the restriction. For most content, leaving posts public is recommended.
Double check posts are age protected before publishing sensitive or mature discussions. Accidentally leaving the post public could result in unwanted attention.
When in doubt about whether a post needs age protection, enabling the feature can be a cautious option. You can always remove age protection later if needed.
Troubleshooting Age Protected Posts
Here are some common fixes for issues with age protected posts on TikTok:
If your post is not showing up as age protected even though you enabled the setting, try toggling the age protection off and then on again. Sometimes the settings do not update properly. You can find the age protection toggle when posting a new video by tapping the shield icon in the bottom left. According to this Dexerto article, toggling it off and back on should resolve the issue.
Make sure your birthdate and age are set correctly in your TikTok profile settings. Incorrect age information could prevent your posts from being age protected properly. You can edit your birthdate in your profile under the “Personal Info” section.
Double check that Restricted Mode is disabled, as having it enabled can override age protection settings on your posts. Restricted Mode hides content marked as mature, so it could block your age protected videos. You can turn off Restricted Mode in your app settings under “Digital Wellbeing.”
If none of those fixes work, you may need to try deleting the post and re-uploading it with age protection enabled again from scratch. According to this How-To Geek guide, sometimes the age protection setting bugs out on certain videos.
As a last resort, you can try reaching out to TikTok support directly through the app for troubleshooting. They may be able to diagnose and fix strange issues with age protected posts.
Age Protected Posts vs. Private Accounts
Age protected posts are different from having a private account on TikTok. With age protected posts, only users over the age of 18 can view that specific piece of content. The rest of the account remains public. With a private account, all content is restricted to approved followers only.
Some key differences between age protected posts and private accounts:
- Age protected posts – Only hides that individual post from under 18 users. Account remains public.
- Private account – All account content is hidden from anyone not approved to follow the account.
- Age protected posts – Can be seen by all users over 18, no approval needed.
- Private account – Users must request and be approved to view any content.
- Age protected posts – Only certain posts are limited by age.
- Private account – All content across the account is restricted.
In summary, age protected posts offer more granular control by restricting access on a per post basis, while private accounts restrict access across all content. Choose age protected posts to selectively limit individual content while keeping an account public. Use a private account for blanket restrictions on everything you post.
Pros and Cons of Age Protecting
Age protecting posts on TikTok can have both benefits and drawbacks for users. Some of the potential pros of using the age protection feature include:
- Limits younger users from viewing content you may not want them exposed to
- Allows you to post content intended for a more mature audience
- Gives you more control over who sees your videos
However, there are also some potential downsides to keep in mind:
- Age protecting can limit your audience and reach since younger viewers won’t be able to see the content
- It takes extra steps to set age restrictions, so it requires more work from the creator
- Technical issues could prevent the age protection from working properly
- You may get less engagement if a lot of your audience is younger
Overall, age protecting gives creators more options to target their content, but it does come with some tradeoffs. TikTok users will need to weigh the pros and cons to decide if using the age protection makes sense for their specific videos and audience.
Alternatives to Age Protecting
There are other options besides age protecting posts that can help limit your audience on TikTok:
Use notifications and tags cautiously – Be choosy about who you allow to get notifications and avoid using niche tags that might attract an older audience. This helps make sure your posts only reach your intended viewers.
Go private – Making your whole account private means only approved followers can see your content. This gives you more control without restricting individual posts.
Use TikTok’s digital wellbeing controls – You can set screen time limits, restrict content, and limit messages. This helps foster a safe environment without age protecting.
Avoid oversharing – Consider what types of content really require age protection. Avoiding oversharing personal details limits your exposure.
Block users – If certain users make inappropriate comments, you can block them from interacting with your posts.
Report inappropriate comments – Use TikTok’s reporting tools if you get inappropriate comments you’re uncomfortable with.
The key is finding the right balance for your personal comfort level. Age protecting posts can help, but isn’t always necessary if you take other precautions.
