Page 19 - • IFV 10 2020.indd

today’s Child

videos about everything, from politics TikTok influencers are creating videos
through to childhood stories.
about everything, from politics through to
IS IT SAFE?
LU XURY IN CAT FOOD
As with any social media platform, childhood stories. L U X UR Y IN CA T F OOD
TikTok gathers information – content,
messages, your likes and dislikes,
friends, devices being used, IP where children drop a coin between and to perhaps do exactly the opposite
addresses, geolocations – you name a phone charger and a wall plug. The of what we ask.
it. Its exponential growth, (especially consequence – a fire! A better approach may be to keep
during lockdown), and sheer scale is Some people use TikTok as a platform yourself, as a parent, informed - read up
where the risk lies. to share controversial political views on the latest craze - let’s face it, if it isn’t
This Chinese-owned app has and sexually inappropriate content. TikTok, it will be something else. Never
been under investigation in several Young children innocently make what lose sight of the fact that these social
countries in terms of privacy and are actually inappropriate videos of a media platforms are built with one
data security issues. There are even sexual nature and others sing along goal in mind - to commercialise their
reports suggesting that it is ‘Chinese to songs filled with vulgar language. users, which they see as their ‘product’.
spyware’. In Korea, they were fined Recently, a ‘campaign’ was launched Just like everything we buy is tracked,
for mismanaging data gathered from against Donald Trump - people were everything we do online is tracked and
minors. The BBC reported “TikTok encouraged to book as attendees for stored, and that information has value
collected data of children under his rally, to ‘fill up’ the venue, basically which can be used for or against us.
14 years old without the consent of to prank him. Thousands did so and, as a Invite your children to talk about their
legal guardians . . . the regulator found result, almost no real supporters arrived use of social media, ask questions, and
that more than 6 000 records involving on the day. Whether you like the man or debate the value of the different apps,
children were collected over six months, not, this is questionable behaviour and the safety, and the perception of why
violating local privacy laws.” India, its shows exactly how powerful this app they are cool. Most importantly, explain
largest market, has banned TikTok can be in a negative context. that they need to take responsibility
because of child safety issues and for their own safety because no social
the UK is investigating it over similar BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SHARE media platform will ever truly be private
concerns. The US is also considering a The real challenge is that we can’t and secure and they are constantly
ban, describing it as a national security protect our children from all the latest vulnerable to being exploited.
risk. Companies like Amazon and Wells crazes. As we know, the more we say Lastly, encourage your children to
Fargo in the US asked employees to don’t do something, the greater the apply the tips below, for their own
delete TikTok from their phones due to intrigue will be to go and find out more safety:
“concerns about TikTok’s privacy and
security controls and practices.”
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 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 About Life Talk® Forum LIFE TALK® FORUM NPC REG:
ground. I was shown a few of the Life Talk’s mission is to create happy, 2010/017980/08 PBO # 930 036317
videos posted and it was horrendous to successful and fulfilled youth, guided OTHER SOURCES:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/what-is-tiktok/
watch! Children fell really hard on their by sound values. Life Talk is a non- BON APPÉTIT cat food is a gourmet meal
backs, some smacked their heads - the profit organisation dedicated to raising https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/5-not-so-great-things-about-tiktok-dan- created with the essence of decadence.
gerous-challenges-censorship-security
consequences can be really serious, awareness, stimulating discussions and https://www.forbes.com/sites/zakdoffman/2020/08/11/tiktok-ap- The range features mousse and paté with
with lifelong ramifications. seeking solutions to the challenges faced ple-iphone-google-android-data-shttps://www.forbes.com/sites/
zakdoffman/2020/07/11/tiktok-seriously-dangerous-warning-de-
Another is the penny challenge by parents and their children. lete-app-trump-ban/#4d8353ca2b0eecurity-update-warning-investigation-t irresistible flavour options. True mealtime
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indulgence to make your cat whisper “meow”.
18 • Issue 10 2020 • The Villager

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