TikTok adds tougher parental controls

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2020/11/18 13:30

Today's Vocabulary

1. safeguard (v)
to protect something from harm

2. features (n)
a
typical quality or an important part of something

3. launch (n)
an
event to celebrate or introduce something new

4. ensure (v)
to make something certain to
happen

5. override (v)
to take
control over something, especially in order to change the way it operates

6. surveillance (n)
the
careful watching of a person or place, especially by the police or army, because of a crime that has happened or is expected

7. restrictions (n)
an
official limit on something

TikTok adds tougher parental controls

TikTok is making it easier for parents to safeguard their children on its video-sharing app.

New features include the ability to change the youngster’s settings remotely to block them from carrying out searches, and to prevent strangers from seeing their posts.

Children can still override these limitations but not without their parents being told.

The function was launched earlier this year, but until now was limited to placing limits on the types of content the child sees, restricting their use of private chats, and limiting how much time they spend in the app.

“Today’s announcement is just the latest in the steps TikTok has taken this year to keep younger users safe on the platform, including restricting direct messaging to over-16s and prompting all users under-18 to set their account to private when they join,” a press release said.

TikTok has retained an option that allows children to “unpair” their device from the parent’s. Doing so sends the adult an alert and gives them 48 hours to restore the link before the child can turn off the restrictions.

Child safety experts support this decision as it allows a balance to be struck between safety and surveillance. The theory is that if teenagers view safety measures as being excessive, it might make them less likely to ask for help if they get into trouble.

One leading charity, however, said the government still needed to ensure TikTok and other apps were held to account if other safety issues arise.

Resource: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54974813

Discussion
  1. What do you think the purpose of TikTok is? To inform, persuade, entertain or a combination of the three? How do you know?
  2. Who do you think the target audience is? Why do you think this?
  3. What techniques does the app use to engage users?
  4.  

“Social media is not a media. The key is to listen, engage, and build relationships.”