For Many Kids TikTok is a Gateway to Porn: Tips To Talk With Kids

For any parent reading this concerned about pornography, most kids aren’t being exposed to porn for the first time directly from porn sites, but from apps like TikTok, and other insidious apps that groom kids, according to ProtectYoungMinds.org.

I must share this for parents that are unaware and pray somehow this will get into their hands through a concerned friend.

Excerpts from TikTok: The Sound of an App Stealing Your Kid’s Life Away:

“No on can deny that TikTok has a huge problem with adult/pornographic content.

“One high school boy was quoted recently saying that “TikTok was the gateway to porn” for him and a lot of his friends. He said he was trying to break his years-long porn habit, but realized every time he scrolled TikTok it was like the app was almost anxious to show him pornographic stuff that would send him straight to a relapse.  I bet if we looked at porn sites’ top referring apps (the app a user was on directly before typing in a porn URL), Tiktok would be near the top!

“And why do apps like Tiktok promote so much pornographic and adult content material to minors? 

“BECAUSE NOTHING IS MORE ADDICTIVE. And if app engagement and user growth are more important than their user’s safety and mental health, then pornographic and sketchy content is their go-to.

“We live in a society where  ad dollars and shareholder value are worth more than the safety of our kids. So if targeting adult content to minors gets them to keep coming back, so be it. 

“Whoever wrote TikTok’s algorithms earned that new yacht for sure! And if your tween/teen has TikTok and you let them keep their phone in their bedroom at night, your kid is not sleeping. And lack of sleep can lead your kids mental health down the toilet.” 

Protect Young Minds Gives us Warning Signs: 

“Your sweet daughter tells you “But mom it’s just silly dances!” or “I’m gonna be TikTok famous!” as you roll your eyes and go back to scanning the latest shouting match on Facebook. After enough begging you finally give in and give it to her. At least It’s keeping her entertained for hours and she seems happy while filming her 20th take of some strange dance alone in the kitchen, so you let things slide.  But soon you notice things start to change— she’s on it ALL the time. You wonder why she’s suddenly so tired and grumpy and find out most nights she’s scrolling TikTok until 2-3am. Her attitude has changed, the clothes she wears are looking much older than her age, and her language has turned into that of a sailor. She starts commenting to you or her friends how fat she looks or that she needs to go on a diet. It seems like the only thing she cares about in the world is this app. You feel like you’re losing your daughter to some unworldly being. That thing forcing your sweet little girl to grow up overnight is TikTok.”

“Don’t take my word for it!” Go download the app yourself and take 10 minutes to scroll through the “For You” page. Go see what your kids will see or are seeing. 

Tips on Talking With Kids About TikTok

Protect Young Minds Gives us Good Advice:

So now you’ve read this, downloaded the app, and are now “awake”.  PLEASE, PLEASE don’t barge into your kids room and scream and yank the phone out of their hands. Do not freak out, do NOT overreact.

All that teaches your kids is:

A.) you can’t be trusted and

B.) they need to do a better job hiding things from you.  

INSTEAD, a more effective way is to go on a drive with them and ask them about it. Get ice cream cones and just listen. Here are some conversation starters:

• How does TikTok make you feel?
• How do you feel about the videos you see?
• Does TikTok make you feel better about yourself or worse?
• If they could change parts of TikTok what would you change? 
• Does spending time on it bring out your best self? 
• What would you rather be doing than scrolling an app alone in your bedroom watching everyone else living their lives? 

Finally, there are Solid Resources For Parents

Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids by Kristen A Jenson gets 5 stars! Read the reviews!

(Source)

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” ~Romans 8:31

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ~Isaiah 41:10

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