TikTok has published a comprehensive safety and privacy guide aimed at helping users strengthen their account security, manage content preferences, and ensure digital wellbeing on the platform.

The company encourages users to review their privacy settings and security tools regularly.

“TikTok offers both public and private accounts, allowing you to decide who can view your content. You can also review your security settings with our new Security Checkup tool,” TikTok said.

Users are advised to add extra layers of security to prevent unauthorised access.

“Once your account is set up, boost your security by enabling two-factor authentication and passkeys. These extra layers of protection help prevent unauthorised access to your account,” TikTok stated.

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TikTok highlights tools that allow users to tailor their content feed.

“Shape your For You feed by adjusting topics, filtering keywords or hashtags, or refreshing your feed. These tools help you discover content you will love,” TikTok noted.

The guide stresses the importance of managing who can send direct messages.

“Choose who can message you. Whether you want to allow the wider TikTok community to contact you or limit it further, managing your messaging preferences is key to staying safe and avoiding unwanted interactions. Direct messaging is not available to anyone under 16,” TikTok explained.

Users are reminded about tools to monitor screen time and promote healthier app usage.

“Built-in screen time tools can help you be more mindful of how much time you spend on TikTok. You can set a daily screen time limit, schedule screen-time breaks, and more. For teens under 18, your daily screen time setting is 60 minutes by default,” TikTok pointed out.

The company urges users to keep an eye on their activity to maintain better control.

“Manage your in-app activity in one place — including watch, comment, and search history, as well as the visibility of individual posts. You can also view your login history to spot any suspicious activity,” TikTok said.

The guide encourages users to track reports they have made and check their account status.

“View the status of any content you’ve reported and check your account status to help resolve questions about your account. Go to: Settings, select: Support, click: Safety Centre to access these tools,” TikTok stated.

Finally, TikTok promotes accessibility features that cater to different user needs.

“Adjust text size, enable captions, and filter out videos that may trigger photosensitivity depending on your needs and visual preferences. TikTok now supports screen readers at the device level, making it easier for users of assistive technology to navigate the app,” TikTok said.

Users seeking further information are directed to visit the platform’s Global Privacy Centre, Privacy Policy, and Help Centre for additional resources.

TikTok’s move to provide clearer safety guidance may contribute to greater awareness of digital security and privacy, particularly among younger users who form a significant portion of its audience.

By offering these tools in a centralised and accessible format, the platform could help users take more responsibility for their online experience.

Whether these efforts will be enough to address ongoing concerns about social media safety remains to be seen, but the guide marks a step towards promoting more informed and mindful use of the app.