TikTok is launching new safety features aimed at younger users, which include refreshed in-app resources for parents, enhanced advisory guides, and a new television campaign promoting its safety capabilities.

To start, TikTok has teamed up with The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) to create a new “Digital Safety Partnership” agreement for families. This document serves as a contract that assists parents in setting clear boundaries and guidelines for social media usage.

The primary goal of this initiative is to initiate discussions between parents and teenagers to raise awareness about the potential dangers of online exposure. TikTok states that the aim is to “establish positive digital boundaries together” through these agreements.

According to TikTok:

“Alongside FOSI, we consulted members of our Content Advisory Council, Youth Council, and parent creators on TikTok to ensure we address the needs of those the agreement is designed to support. To help caregivers learn about this and other digital parenting strategies, we will collaborate with FOSI to promote available resources for families, supported by complimentary advertising space on TikTok.”

While implementing a formal contract for online safety measures may seem a bit excessive, it effectively facilitates the crucial conversation around setting clear guidelines. This approach also provides parents with a reference point to minimize conflicts and may help keep young users aware of potential risks.

You can download the Digital Safety Partnership template document here.

Additionally, TikTok is updating its Guardian’s Guide and Teen Safety Center to assist families in utilizing its various tools and controls more effectively.

“Our Teen Safety Center has been refreshed based on advice and input from our global Youth Council, where teens expressed a desire for more visual content, interactive features like quizzes, and clearer information on blocking and reporting functions.”

The updated safety center (as seen in the image above) now incorporates more of these interactive and engaging elements to encourage greater usage.

Lastly, TikTok is launching a new television campaign that showcases its diverse safety tools.

It's fascinating to observe how TikTok is integrating feedback from its newly formed Youth Council to enhance its strategies. By consulting actual young users about what works best for them and how they can engage more effectively with safety features, TikTok is taking an inclusive approach.

This could result in more favorable outcomes for everyone involved. These updates appear to be a positive move and, in many respects, offer a refreshing perspective.