TikTok tops parental worries in social media

Recent data analysis has unveiled TikTok as the leading cause of concern among parents regarding social media safety, with a staggering 5,100 monthly online searches in the United States alone asking, “Is TikTok safe?”

Findings about TikTok

Canopy.us, an AI-powered family safety app, gathered Google search data on social media platform safety. They analysed global and US search volumes to identify the most concerning platform. Additionally, Canopy.us explored the TikTok risks for kids and suggested safety measures for parents.

Which social media platform is the cause for most concern?

Canopy.us analysed search volume data by inputting the phrase ‘Is [insert social media platform] safe?’. In doing this, the social media platform that was found to be most worrying was revealed. TikTok was by far the winner, with an estimated 8,900 monthly global searches for “Is TikTok safe?”, over half of these coming from the US alone. This data suggests a continuing concern for user safety on the platform.

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Phrase	Global Search Volume	US Search Volume
Is TikTok safe	8,900	5,100
Is Snapchat safe	6,000	2,300
Is Reddit safe	4,000	2,000
Is Instagram safe	2,700	1,000
Is Twitter safe	800	300
Is Facebook safe	500	250
Is YouTube safe	500	200
Is Twitch safe	400	150

Comments about the findings

“According to new data findings, TikTok is the most worrying social media app. While many risks are posed to young users of the platform, parents can do several things to protect their kids from dangerous content. As a parent, you know if TikTok will be a safe choice.As you protect and guide your kids at various ages, you know what they can handle and how they will handle themselves, putting in place guardrails that are appropriate for their maturity, such as the family safety mode.”

Canopy.us

What are the possible dangers of TikTok?

It can be addictive – The app has endless scrolling for non-stop content. TikTok’s algorithm learns from users, making a more personalized experience. A Tech Crunch study found kids spend 80 minutes daily on the platform – nine hours a week, 486 hours a year, and 20 days yearly watching videos.

Risk of sexual exploitation – 
Parents worry about predators contacting children on TikTok. An NSPCC survey of 40,000 school kids showed 25% had live streamed with strangers, and 1 in 20 were asked to remove clothes. This risk isn’t just on one platform; all platforms allowing interaction with strangers need parental vigilance.

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