Amid growing concerns over the misuse of TikTok by predators targeting young Kenyan users, the platform has introduced enhanced safety and well-being tools to curb harmful content and promote healthier digital habits for teenagers.
The move follows alarming revelations, including a recent BBC exposé uncovering how minors are being manipulated into live-streaming explicit content at the demand of digital pimps.
On Wednesday, TikTok announced key updates to its Family Pairing feature, initially launched five years ago, now offering parents greater control and flexibility over their children’s online experience. This feature allows parents, guardians, and teens to customize safety settings based on individual needs.
Key Updates to Family Pairing:
- Time Away Scheduling: Parents can set custom screen-free periods, such as school hours and bedtime. While teens may request extra time, the final decision remains with the parents.
- Expanded Family Visibility: Guardians can now see who their teens follow and who follows them, with the ability to block accounts if needed, encouraging open discussions about online interactions.
- Proactive Reporting Alerts: Teens will soon have the option to notify a trusted adult whenever they report a video, even without enabling Family Pairing, fostering ongoing conversations about online safety.
- New Wind-Down Feature: Teens under 16 using TikTok past 10 p.m. will receive full-screen prompts with calming music, nudging them to log off and prioritize rest.
These additions complement an already extensive range of customizable settings under Family Pairing, making it one of the most comprehensive digital well-being toolkits available on a social media platform.
The rollout of these safety measures comes at a time when Kenyan parents, child rights organizations, and lawmakers have been calling for stricter content moderation.
Just last week, Senators Hezena Lemaletian and Godfrey Osotsi raised concerns over the lack of robust regulations to protect minors from digital exploitation, criticizing both social media platforms and government agencies for insufficient enforcement.
“This is not just about technology; it’s about the lives and futures of our children,” remarked Senator Lemaletian. “We need platforms to take full responsibility for age verification and content moderation.”
Beyond parental controls, TikTok is also intensifying its local safety efforts through the #SaferTogether campaign. Since 2023, this initiative—run in partnership with Eveminet, a digital safety organization—has aimed to equip and empower children and youth with online safety skills.
However, child rights advocates argue that technology alone is not enough to address the issue. They continue to urge the Kenyan government to collaborate with social media companies, enforce stricter internet regulations, and equip ICT regulators with the expertise needed to keep up with evolving digital threats.
As the digital landscape evolves, both platform providers and policymakers share the responsibility of ensuring that Kenya’s youth can explore the online world safely, without falling victim to exploitation.