Page 30 - Fourways Gardens October 2020

Today's Child

As with any social media platform, TikTok These social media platforms
IS IT SAFE?
your likes and dislikes, friends, devices are built with one goal in mind
gathers information – content, messages,
– you name it. Its exponential growth, - to commercialise their users.
being used, IP addresses, geolocations
(especially during lockdown), and sheer
scale is where the risk lies.
Some people use TikTok as a platform to A better approach may be to keep
share controversial political views and yourself, as a parent, informed - read up
This Chinese-owned app has been under sexually inappropriate content. Young on the latest craze - let’s face it, if it isn’t
investigation in several countries in terms children innocently make what are TikTok, it will be something else. Never
of privacy and data security issues. There actually inappropriate videos of a sexual lose sight of the fact that these social
are even reports suggesting that it is nature and others sing along to songs media platforms are built with one goal
‘Chinese spyware’. In Korea, they were filled with vulgar language. Recently, a in mind - to commercialise their users,
fined for mismanaging data gathered ‘campaign’ was launched against Donald which they see as their ‘product’. Just like
from minors. The BBC reported “TikTok Trump - people were encouraged to everything we buy is tracked, everything
collected data of children under 14 years book as attendees for his rally, to ‘fill we do online is tracked and stored, and
old without the consent of legal guardians up’ the venue, basically to prank him. that information has value which can be
. . . the regulator found that more than Thousands did so and, as a result, almost used for or against us.
6 000 records involving children were no real supporters arrived on the day.
collected over six months, violating local Whether you like the man or not, this
privacy laws.” India, its largest market, is questionable behaviour and shows Invite your children to talk about their use
has banned TikTok because of child exactly how powerful this app can be in a of social media, ask questions, and debate

safety issues and the UK is investigating negative context. the value of the di erent apps, the safety,
it over similar concerns. The US is also and the perception of why they are cool.
considering a ban, describing it as a BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SHARE Most importantly, explain that they need
national security risk. Companies like The real challenge is that we can’t protect to take responsibility for their own safety
Amazon and Wells Fargo in the US our children from all the latest crazes. because no social media platform will ever
asked employees to delete TikTok from As we know, the more we say don’t do truly be private and secure and they are
constantly vulnerable to being exploited.
their phones due to “concerns about something, the greater the intrigue will
TikTok’s privacy and security controls and be to go and find out more and to perhaps
practices.” Lastly, encourage your children to apply
do exactly the opposite of what we ask. the tips below, for their own safety:
This may be similar to concerns about
Facebook but the real difference here is
that the users are very young.

OUR CHILDREN ARE GETTING HURT
The real danger though lies within
ourselves, in how people are using the app.

Children are being exposed to potentially
dangerous videos in the form of
challenges where they are asked to mimic
the content, and children are getting hurt!
There are a few of these: The skull breaker
challenge involves purposefully tripping
an unsuspecting victim so that they fall.
The aim is to get them to hit their heads
on the ground. I was shown a few of the
videos posted and it was horrendous to
watch! Children fell really hard on their About Life Talk® Forum Other sources:
backs, some smacked their heads - the Life Talk’s mission is to create happy, successful https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/what-is-tiktok/
consequences can be really serious, with and ful lled youth, guided by sound values. https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/5-not-so-great-things-about-

tiktok-dangerous-challenges-censorship-security

lifelong ramifications. Life Talk is a non-pro t organisation dedicated https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/08/11/tiktok-
to raising awareness, stimulating discussions apple-iphone-google-android-data-shttps://www.forbes.com/
sites/zakdoffman/2020/07/11/tiktok-seriously-dangerous-
Another is the penny challenge where and seeking solutions to the challenges faced warning-delete-app-trump-ban/#4d8353ca2b0eecurity-update-
warning-investigation-trump-ban/#4e13f6b13436
children drop a coin between a phone by parents and their children.
charger and a wall plug. The consequence
– a re! LIFE TALK® FORUM NPC REG: 2010/017980/08

PBO # 930 036317
Fourways Gardens • 28 • October 2020