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Since its launch, TikTok has become a global sensation, with people creating and sharing short videos. It allows video creators to showcase their creativity and videography skills. However, numerous safety concerns have surfaced over the years, typically amongst parents. This is why many look for an app like TikTok for kids to create and share videos in a safer space.
This comprehensive guide details the risks of using TikTok and lists the top TikTok alternatives for kids. These apps monitor their content and ensure kids have a secure and enjoyable experience.
Table of Contents
Part 1. The Risks of TikTok for Kids
Like most social media platforms, TikTok can pose potential safety risks for kids. Parents and caregivers must be aware of the following:
Data Privacy: In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission fined TikTok $5.7 million for violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). According to the law, companies must obtain consent from parents before collecting data on their 13-year-old. TikTok also failed to notify parents about their data collection practices.
Predator Use: TikTok allows users to connect and contact anyone globally. This means your child could be chatting with anyone, including strangers. Predators might exploit this feature to send explicit messages and sway your child to share personal information with them.
Inappropriate Content: TikTok has a “For You Page” or FYP feed section populated with the content the algorithm thinks you might like. Theoretically, a kid’s main feed should contain relatively innocent content. However, many factors influence what pops up on your feed. The platform is filled with overtly sexual TikToks to physically dangerous stunts that kids might find appealing. It makes the usage of the platform more concerning.
Negative Mental Health: TikTok can affect your kids’ mental health in two ways. One, they view potentially disturbing content, and the other, the reactions to the content they post. Users often make sarcastic, dismissive, or demeaning reactions or comments, which negatively affect the mental health of kids and can even cause depression.
Dangerous Trends: The quest for internet popularity can be harmful for teens. They might be tempted to participate in TikTok challenges, such as the cinnamon challenge. It encourages kids to eat a spoonful of cinnamon in a minute, causing them to choke, gag, and inhale in space.
Cyberbullying: Like any other social media platform, TikTok opens avenues for trolling and cyberbullying. When a video is not funny or successful, people use the Reactions feature to make fun of or bully them. TikTok ranks third amongst social media platforms where kids are likely to be bullied. The figures can go as high as 64%.
Part 2. Best Kid-friendly Apps like TikTok
Now, it’s a fact that TikTok is dangerous for kids, so as a parent, you must keep an eye on it. There are many apps like TikTok but for kids, these are the top options:
1. Zigazoo
One-line Review: Zigazoo is the best app like TikTok for kids, where they post their videos completing challenges and obtain positive interactions.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 3.6 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.7 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
Zigazoo is a KidSAFE COPPA Certified app that offers educational content through interactive challenges.
The admins moderate its videos to ensure they are age-appropriate and safe.
The app’s bullying and no-messaging policy allows parents to stay carefree while their kids watch content.
2. YouTube Kids
One-line Review: YouTube Kids offers videos suited for kids of different ages and integrates strong parental controls for safety.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 4+ stars
- Apple App Store: 4.7 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
YouTube Kids is a friendly version of YouTube with content for children of various age groups: preschoolers, younger children, and older children.
There is no messaging feature on the platform.
Its parental controls, such as screen time limits, safety mode, restricted mode, and others, ensure a safe viewing experience.
3. Coverstar
One-line Review: It’s a social media app that allows kids to have a safe experience without fear of bullying or exposure to explicit content.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 4 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.7 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
The platform has strict policies against bullying and explicit content.
Parents can create accounts for their kids to protect their privacy.
Coverstar encourages users to share positive content without worrying about negative comments.
It doesn’t allow direct messaging between users.
4. Funimate
One-line Review: A mobile app that allows kids to create and edit trendy and dynamic videos with the available tools and special effects.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 4.2 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.5 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
The powerful video editor comes with music alongside special effects and transitions.
The interface is intuitive and easy to use, making it suitable for beginners.
The available editing tools foster creativity and imagination among kids.
5. Likee (Age Limit Varies)
One-line Review: Likee offers a cool way for kids to use social media and show off their creativity, such as dancing, acting, and designing clothing.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 4.4 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.5 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
Likee is a good platform for sharing video content.
This kids' TikTok app lets you create duet videos with friends, creators, and others.
Parents can disable or restrict private messaging, disable video saving, and block users to keep their kids safe.
6. Kidoodle.TV
One-line Review: Kidoodle.TV is a COPPA-certified app that offers a curated and add-free video-watching experience to the kids.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 3.4 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.2 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
Kidoodle.TV is a secure and ad-free platform that offers entertainment and educational programs.
The content is age-appropriate and safe for your child.
Its intuitive and easy-to-use interface makes it accessible to kids of all ages.
7. PBS Kids
One-line Review: Unlike other apps that are like TikTok for kids, it offers a diverse library of videos and games that promote learning.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 4.4 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.3 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
Kids have access to high-quality gaming and educational content through games and videos.
The app is ad-free, so kids have access to a distraction-free learning experience.
Parents can track the learning activities and the child’s progress.
8. HappyKids
One-line Review: This user-friendly app like TikTok for kids on iOS and Android offers a wide selection of content for users of all ages.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 3.1 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.5 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
Users have access to plenty of movies and shows, including educational videos, cartoons, and others.
The app is easy to navigate and set up, so kids can seamlessly browse through the content.
You can download the videos for offline viewing, which is suitable for long trips.
The app content is updated regularly for safety.
9. Triller
One-line Review: Triller is a simple app like TikTok for kids free that you can use to record and edit video footage.
App Store Rating:
- Google Play: 4.0 stars
- Apple App Store: 4.6 out of 5
Why Pick It and What’s Good for Kids
Triller is suitable for users older than 12 and can create and edit short videos with music.
It has a rich library of music, which can allow teens to explore new artists.
The platform monitors the uploaded content and removes anything sexually explicit or violent.
Part 3. Apps Like Tiktok/Tiktok Alternatives
If you’re concerned about the risks TikTok poses, then you can opt for the available alternatives. Many apps are available online, but you must opt for the best for a similar experience.
1. Funimate
Funimate is a TikTok-like short video viewing and editing app with 100+ effects to curate your content. It lets you create custom effects, incorporate transitions, and add stickers, emojis, and text to your videos. Also, it has a much more intricate video editing system than TikTok. It supports video merging, multi-layer editing, animations, and slow-motion effects. There is also a diverse set of music tracks that you can add to your videos and share across social media.
2. Dubsmash
Dubsmash is a popular TikTok-like app with more than 100 million installs. It is a music video app that focuses on entertaining lip-sync videos. You can choose from a diverse sound library, including songs and popular quotes from movies and TV. You can also add stickers and text to enhance your content further.
The app categorizes videos in a way that Snapchat and TikTok do. That is, there is a news feed section that displays videos of your interest and a “friends” section containing content posted by your friends.
Part 4. How to Protect Kids from Inappropriate TikTok Content
After reading this post you will realize that Tiktok does have some content that may be harmful to minors, and choosing to use TikTok for Kids would be a good choice. In fact, there are always ways for teens to have access to a wide variety of internet content, and if you want to monitor your child's TikTok usage, KidsGuard for TikTok is your best choice. You can see the videos your child has recently liked, the people they chat with and even the videos they watch most often.
Installing KidsGuard for Children on your child's phone is another great idea if you want a healthier way of controlling things than just stealthy tracking. The app management and social media features in there both allow parents to see their child's software usage at a glance and manage it with the necessary assistance in a situation that is negotiated with the child.
Conclusion
Now that you have a list of apps like TikTok for kids, they can be creative and imaginative in a safe space. These alternatives are much safer and kid-friendly than TikTok, so you no longer have to worry about bullying or exposing your kids to harmful content.
However, the best practice for parents would be to continue monitoring their kids’ online activities. KidsGuard for Children is the best platform for that. It lets you block the app, which can be dangerous for your kids. Besides, its features like WhatsApp, social media, call, and message monitoring can be handy.
