Skip to main content

TikTok announcement shows impact of Children’s Code

TikTok has announced significant changes aimed at increasing protections for children on the popular social media app. Under the new measures, all TikTok users under the age of 16 will have their account set to private as default. In addition, under 16s will not be recommended to other users and will limit comments to friends only. There will also be lighter protections for children over the age of 16.

A wider view showing the same scene. A person is sitting, holding a smartphone in both hands, with their thumb about to select the TikTok app. The person is wearing a white long-sleeve top, and the phone screen displays various app icons. This is the full version of the close-up shown above.

These changes have been introduced ahead of such measures being required by law under the Age Appropriate Design Code (“the Children’s Code”), which comes into force in September. The Code is the first of its kind anywhere in the world, and sets out the specific protections that children require for their data, offering a high standard of data protection – by default. It was introduced into law as part of a cross party amendment to the Data Protection Act 2018, and was led by the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”).

“Congratulations to the ICO, whose robust Children’s Code has shown TikTok how to provide greater protection for children’s privacy online. It is good to see them acting ahead of the September deadline. These changes are a big step forward for children, and important step on the way to building the digital world children deserve” commented Baroness Beeban Kidron, founder and chair of 5Rights.