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Μοιράζομαι με ασφάλεια

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Μοιράζομαι με ασφάλεια

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Interland is an adventure-packed online game that puts the key lessons of digital citizenship and safety into hands-on practice. Play your way to being Internet Awesome.

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Οδηγός ασφαλούς χρήσης του διαδικτύου για γονείς και παιδιά

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Οδηγός ασφαλούς χρήσης του διαδικτύου για γονείς και παιδιά

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Ιστορίες για παιδιά και γονείς (κόμικς)

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Ιστορίες για παιδιά και γονείς (κόμικς)

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Μαθαίνω για τα προσωπικά δεδομένα

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Μαθαίνω για τα προσωπικά δεδομένα

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Μαθαίνω για τα προσωπικά δεδομένα (για μεγάλα παιδιά Δημοτικού)

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Ασφαλές διαδίκτυο-γενικές πληροφορίες

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Ασφαλές διαδίκτυο-γενικές πληροφορίες

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Συμβουλές για γονείς

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Συμβουλές για γονείς

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Διαδικτυακές αγορές

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Διαδικτυακές αγορές

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Επικίνδυνες προκλήσεις

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Επικίνδυνες προκλήσεις

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Εικόνες και πρότυπα στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα

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Εικόνες και πρότυπα στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα

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Ασφάλεια στο διαδίκτυο

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Ασφάλεια στο διαδίκτυο

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Ευγένεια και σεβασμός στο διαδίκτυο

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Ευγένεια και σεβασμός στο διαδίκτυο

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Προσωπικά δεδομένα

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Προσωπικά δεδομένα

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Θετικό περιεχόμενο στο διαδίκτυο

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Θετικό περιεχόμενο στο διαδίκτυο

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Διαδικτυακά παιχνίδια

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Διαδικτυακά παιχνίδια

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Μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης

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Μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης

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Ιστορίες για παιδιά και γονείς (κόμικς)

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Ιστορίες για παιδιά και γονείς (κόμικς)

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Τεχνητή νοημοσύνη

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Τεχνητή νοημοσύνη

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Τι είναι η τεχνητή νοημοσύνη;

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When Alfie's not gaming, he's making videos about gaming for his channel. He even talks about gaming in his sleep!

Alfie's gaming videos are the talk of his class, his friends can't wait to hear all the latest tips and tricks. Alfie loves teaching others his skills, he even taught his Nana Nora to game!

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When Alfie's not gaming, he's making videos about gaming for his channel. He even talks about gaming in his sleep! Alfie's gaming videos are the talk of his class, his friends can't wait to hear all the latest tips and tricks. Alfie loves teaching others his skills, he even taught his Nana Nora to game!

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Cyber-Five is a short animation which introduces children to five memorable rules to help them be safer on the internet.

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Βουνό Επίγνωσης (Μοιράσου αλλά φυλάξου)

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Βουνό Επίγνωσης (Μοιράσου αλλά φυλάξου)

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Το Ίντερλαντ είναι ένα διαδικτυακό παιχνίδι περιπέτειας, όπου μπορείς να εφαρμόσεις στην πράξη τα κύρια διδάγματα σχετικά με την ψηφιακή ιθαγένεια και την ψηφιακή ασφάλεια. Γίνε Δεξιοτέχνης του Διαδικτύου παίζοντας!

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Το ποτάμι της αλήθειας (Μην την πατάς με την απάτη)

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Το ποτάμι της αλήθειας (Μην την πατάς με την απάτη)

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Το Ίντερλαντ είναι ένα διαδικτυακό παιχνίδι περιπέτειας, όπου μπορείς να εφαρμόσεις στην πράξη τα κύρια διδάγματα σχετικά με την ψηφιακή ιθαγένεια και την ψηφιακή ασφάλεια. Γίνε Δεξιοτέχνης του Διαδικτύου παίζοντας!

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Πύργος του θησαυρού (Κράτα καλά τα μυστικά σου)

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Πύργος του θησαυρού (Κράτα καλά τα μυστικά σου)

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Το Ίντερλαντ είναι ένα διαδικτυακό παιχνίδι περιπέτειας, όπου μπορείς να εφαρμόσεις στην πράξη τα κύρια διδάγματα σχετικά με την ψηφιακή ιθαγένεια και την ψηφιακή ασφάλεια. Γίνε Δεξιοτέχνης του Διαδικτύου παίζοντας!

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WebGL builds are not supported on mobile devices.

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Το βασίλειο της ευγένειας (Η κουλ συμπεριφορά είναι η καλή συμπεριφορά)

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Το βασίλειο της ευγένειας (Η κουλ συμπεριφορά είναι η καλή συμπεριφορά)

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Το Ίντερλαντ είναι ένα διαδικτυακό παιχνίδι περιπέτειας, όπου μπορείς να εφαρμόσεις στην πράξη τα κύρια διδάγματα σχετικά με την ψηφιακή ιθαγένεια και την ψηφιακή ασφάλεια. Γίνε Δεξιοτέχνης του Διαδικτύου παίζοντας!

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Εθισμός στο διαδίκτυο

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Εθισμός στο διαδίκτυο

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Back to School 2018 - Εθισμός στο διαδίκτυο για παιδιά Δημοτικού

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Διαδικτυακός εκφοβισμός (για μεγάλα παιδιά δημοτικού)

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Διαδικτυακός εκφοβισμός (για μεγάλα παιδιά δημοτικού)

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Διαδικτυακός Εκφοβισμός (για μεγάλα παιδιά Δημοτικού)

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Διαδικτυακός εκφοβισμός (για μικρά παιδιά Δημοτικού)

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Διαδικτυακός εκφοβισμός (για μικρά παιδιά Δημοτικού)

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Ασφάλεια στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα

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Ασφάλεια στα κοινωνικά δίκτυα

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Social Media από το SaferInternet4Kids.gr

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Ασφάλεια στο διαδίκτυο

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Ασφάλεια στο διαδίκτυο

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Πύργος Θησαυρού-Δυνατοί Κωδικοί

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Πύργος Θησαυρού-Δυνατοί Κωδικοί

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Το Ίντερλαντ είναι ένα διαδικτυακό παιχνίδι περιπέτειας, όπου μπορείς να εφαρμόσεις στην πράξη τα κύρια διδάγματα σχετικά με την ψηφιακή ιθαγένεια και την ψηφιακή ασφάλεια. Γίνε Δεξιοτέχνης του Διαδικτύου παίζοντας!

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Οδηγός γονέων για τον διαδικτυακό εκφοβισμό

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Οδηγός γονέων για τον διαδικτυακό εκφοβισμό

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Bullying is a serious, long-standing social problem that now occurs in digital spaces as well as physical ones. But, contrary to what you might have heard or read, it isn't just a youth problem, it isn't getting worse, and it isn't more of a problem online than offline. Because of the rise of social media in the middle of the last decade, bullying and peer harassment have been getting a lot of news coverage, so - rather than increased bullying - what we're really seeing is increased attention to it and a lot more concern about it.

Thanks to increased research, we know more about the problem and what will help, and we're more motivated as a society to address it. We also know that the problem isn't the technology people use. Technology can help amplify it and create another "place" where it happens, but - just like bullying - cyberbullying is rooted in relationships, in how people interact in everyday life. As for young people, since they spend a lot of time in social media, their interaction - good, bad or neutral - happens in apps, texts, games and sites too.

What is cyberbullying?

Even though it has been around for ages, experts still haven't completely agreed on a definition of "bullying," much less cyberbullying, the digital version. There are elements that keep popping up in definitions, though, so that we're pretty clear on what it is not. It's not social drama, an argument, mean gossip, an impulsive expression of anger or a prank that's gone wrong but wasn't meant to. Any of these can be hurtful and sometimes they can turn into bullying, but cyberbullying is not just any form of mean behavior any more than bullying is in offline life.

Most experts agree that bullying and cyberbullying are forms of serious aggression, usually targeted and repeated. With cyberbullying, the repetition can be less personal but just as hurtful when shared widely, or even virally, by anonymous posters. By most definitions, both involve a real or perceived power imbalance that's physical, psychological and/or social. Although cyberbullying occurs in digital spaces and can be anonymous, there's usually a connection to offline life - for kids, school life.

Anonymity is more of a factor in cyberbullying than in traditional bullying. Targets may believe that more people are witness to the abuse than actually are, which can compound the pain. And since online socializing can occur 24/7, home, weekends and vacation can't be havens from the hurt.

Young people may not call it cyberbullying

If you want to talk with kids about "cyberbullying," it might be best not to use that term - at least not at first. Kids often use other terms, like "drama" to describe a range of behaviors that don't necessarily fit into adult perceptions or a scholarly definition. Sometimes it involves mean gossip, pranks and arguments. Sometimes it can turn into cyberbullying, but too many kinds of behavior are called "cyberbullying," which can cause overreaction and responses from adults that only increase the problem for the young people involved. To avoid that and get a clear picture of what's going on, encourage your kids to use their own terms and be specific, so you can figure out together how to respond, if at all - and whether or not you need to be involved.

Putting cyberbullying numbers into perspective & some good news

Probably because there is no single definition of cyberbullying, the numbers are all over the map, but lower than we often hear. And, contrary to some reports, the numbers are not going up - if anything, they've gone down a little. The National Center for Educational Statistics reported that 15.6% of students in grades 6-12 were "electronically bullied" in 2015, down from 16.2% in 2011. When it comes to high school students (grades 9 to 12), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that 14.5% of high school students were electronically bullied in 2017, compared to 19% who had been bullied in school, during the 12 months prior to the survey. That's actually lower than it was in 2011 and 2015. It does appear that bullying tapers off with age. CDC reported that, in 2015, 24% of middle school students were cyberbullied and 45% were bullied on school property.

After a review of multiple studies, the Cyberbullying Research Center, in 2016, estimated that, on average, about 24% of middle and high school students have been cyberbullied. In a 2012 paper, pioneering bullying researcher Dan Olweus reported that, among 440,000 US students surveyed (grades 3-12), 4.5% had been cyberbullied. Like other experts, Olweus reported that in-person bullying is a far bigger problem than cyberbullying, which "has not increased over time," and "claims about cyberbullying made in the media" are "often greatly exaggerated." Though numbers certainly don't ease the problem for anyone who has experienced cyberbullying, they provide the sense of perspective that helps adults handle incidents calmly and appropriately. Dr. Olweus wrote that "a distorted portrayal of reality will probably generate a lot of unnecessary anxiety and tension among parents and maybe teachers and students."

You may see other numbers thrown around - some as high at 85%, but examine the survey's methodology. Some of those are opt-in surveys aimed at specific groups of teens and not representative of teens as a whole.

In-person bullying is also on the decline. A 2017 study published in Journal of the American Academic of Pediatrics reviewed the prevalence of bullying and related behaviors between 2005 and 2014 and found that "Prevalence of bullying and related behaviors generally decreased over this 10-year period with the most recent years showing the greatest improvements in school climate and reductions in bullying."

Of course, both online and in-person bullying remains a serious problem affecting a significant number of young people and the news that the prevalence is declining is of no solace to any child who is experiencing bullying or any parent or educator supporting that child. Every child deserves to be safe and comfortable online, in school or wherever they happen to be.

Groups vulnerable to cyberbullying

Every case is as individual as the people involved, so it's hard to generalize, but we do have some cyberbullying data on who tends to be more vulnerable: ethnic, racial and religious minorities, young people with special needs or learning disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) youth (see ConnectSafely's booklet, The Parent, Educator & Youth Guide to LGBTQ Cyberbullying). There is even a term for this, "bias-based bullying" which Laura Walton, in a 2018 paper, refers to as "physical, verbal, social, or cyber-based threats directed toward a minority population based upon race, ethnicity, religious belief, gender, or sexual orientation," or age, familial status, or mental, physical or sensory handicap. And, even though bullying, in general, is on the decline, Elizabeth Englander of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center observed in 2017 that "bias-based incidents seem to be increasing in the U.S."

But even young people with no noticeable vulnerabilities have been bullied and cyberbullied - whether very shy or beauty contest winners (some teen pageant contestants and celebrities have made bullying prevention their cause because of victimization in their pasts). Just being perceived as "different" can be challenging for young people, so no one's completely immune. Because we want to support, not stifle, individuality, it's important to help our children appreciate and respect what's unique in themselves and others.

Not just a 'kid thing'

A 2014 US national survey published by WorkplaceBullying.org indicates that 27% of American workers have "suffered abusive conduct at work." It's at least as big a problem among adults as among youth, which in no way discounts the impact on kids, as they explore identity and learn to navigate complex social landscapes. Sadly, there are also plenty of reported cases of adults who bully kids, and anyone who watches TV - including some reality shows, talk shows and political debates - has probably seen so-called "responsible adults" get pretty nasty to each other - something you might want to point out to your kids next time you see it on TV.

WHAT CAN HELP

For kids and teens

Each case is individual, but there's some general, tried-and-true advice that you could consider sharing with your child:

Know that it's not your fault. What people call "bullying" is sometimes an argument between two people. But if someone is repeatedly cruel to you, that's bullying and you mustn't blame yourself. No one deserves to be treated cruelly.

Don't respond or retaliate. Sometimes a reaction is exactly what aggressors are looking for because they think it gives them power over you, and you don't want to empower a bully. As for retaliating, getting back at a bully turns you into one - and can turn one mean act into a chain reaction. If you can, remove yourself from the situation. If you can't, sometimes humor disarms or distracts a person from bullying.

Save the evidence. The only good news about bullying online or on phones is that it can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help. You can save that evidence in case things escalate. [Visit ConnectSafely.org/cyberbullying for instructions on how to capture screens on phones and computers.]

Tell the person to stop. This is completely up to you - don't do it if you don't feel totally comfortable doing it, because you need to make your position completely clear that you will not stand for this treatment anymore. You may need to practice beforehand with someone you trust, like a parent or good friend.

Reach out for help - especially if the behavior's really getting to you. You deserve backup. See if there's someone who can listen, help you process what's going on and work through it - a friend, relative or maybe an adult you trust.

Use available tech tools. Most social media apps and services allow you to block the person. Whether the harassment's in an app, texting, comments or tagged photos, do yourself a favor and take advantage of that. You can also report the problem to the service. That probably won't end it, but you don't need the harassment in your face, and you'll be less tempted to respond. If you're getting threats of physical harm, you should call your local police (with a parent or guardian's help) and consider reporting it to school authorities.

Protect your accounts. Don't share your passwords with anyone - even your closest friends, who may not be close forever - and password-protect your phone so no one can use it to impersonate you. You'll find advice at passwords.connectsafely.org.

If someone you know is being bullied, take action. Just standing by can empower an aggressor and does nothing to help. The best thing you can do is try to stop the bullying by taking a stand against it. If you can't stop it, support the person being bullied. If the person's a friend, you can listen and see how to help. Consider together whether you should report the bullying. If you're not already friends, even a kind word can help reduce the pain. At the very least, help by not passing along a mean message and not giving positive attention to the person doing the bullying.

If your child is cyberbullying others

No parent wants to think that their child is hurting others, but - let's face it - if someone is being bullied, that means that someone else is bullying and that person, too, almost certainly has a loving parent. The first thing to do is get them to stop the bullying but try not to overreact. Talk with your child, get all the facts and consider probing further in their devices and accounts. Look for underlying issues and problems that might be affecting your child. Even though your child may be engaged in bullying, he or she is not "a bully." Education, communication and caring - not labels - are the best ways to help children improve.

If your child is being disciplined by school or law enforcement, make sure he or she is being treated fairly and appropriately. There are some in positions of authority who tend to be punitive rather than corrective. Some schools, communities and states have a "zero-tolerance policy" when it comes to both physical and cyberbullying but, according to research reported by Shared Justice, "This type of disciplinary procedure has been proven in research to have an overall negative effect on students, and a disproportionately negative effect on minorities."

Additional advice for parents

Know that you're lucky if your child asks for help. Most young people don't tell their parents about bullying online or offline. So if your child's losing sleep or doesn't want to go to school or seems agitated when on his or her computer or phone, ask why as calmly and open-heartedly as possible. Feel free to ask if it has anything to do with mean behavior or social issues. But even if it does, don't assume it's bullying. You won't know until you get the full story, starting with your child's perspective.

Work with your child. There are two reasons why you'll want to keep your child involved. Bullying and cyberbullying usually involve a loss of dignity or control over a social situation, and involving your child in finding solutions helps him or her regain that. The second reason is about context. Because the bullying is almost always related to school life and our kids understand the situation and context better than parents ever can, their perspective is key to getting to the bottom of the situation and working out a solution. You may need to have private conversations with others, but let your child know if you do, and report back. This is about your child's life, so your child needs to be part of the solution.

Respond thoughtfully, not fast. What parents don't always know is that they can make things worse for their kids if they act rashly. A lot of cyberbullying involves somebody getting marginalized (put down and excluded), which the bully thinks increases his or her power or status. If you respond publicly or if your child's peers find out about even a discreet meeting with school authorities, the marginalization can get worse, which is why any response needs to be well thought out.

More than one perspective needed. Your child's account of what happened is likely completely sincere, but remember that one person's truth isn't necessarily everybody's. You'll need to get other perspectives and be open-minded about what they are. Sometimes kids let themselves get pulled into chain reactions, and often what we see online is only one side of or part of the story.

What victims say helps most is to be heard - really listened to - either by a friend or an adult who cares. That's why, if your kids come to you for help, it's so important to respond thoughtfully and involve them. Just by being heard respectfully, a child is often well on the way to healing.

Solutions are more important than punishment. Of course, there should be consequences for anyone who bullies, whether online or off, but severe punishment and "zero tolerance" is not usually the answer. Remember, that children who bully are still children. They too may be hurting which could be why they're acting out. If you're the parent of a child who is being bullied your first responsibility, of course, is to take care of your child. And while you may not be the one to tend to the needs of the child who is acting out, it's important to not make matters worse by demanding severe consequences when a more measured response might get better results.

The ultimate goal is restored self-respect and greater resilience in your child. This, not getting someone punished, is the best focus for resolving the problem and helping your child heal. What your child needs most is to regain a sense of dignity. Sometimes that means standing up to the bully, sometimes not. Together, you and your child can figure out how to get there.

One positive outcome we don't think about (or hear in the news) enough is resilience. We know the human race will never completely eradicate meanness or cruelty, and we also know that bullying is not, as heard in past generations, "normal" or a rite of passage. We need to keep working to eradicate it. But when it does happen and we overcome it - our resilience grows. Resilience isn't something that can be "downloaded" or taught. We grow it through exposure to challenges and figuring out how to deal with them. So sometimes it's important to give them space to do that and let them know we have their back.

A few closing thoughts for parents

When our children are suffering, we naturally want to stop the hurt as fast as possible. The problem is, there are no quick fixes or formulas for relational issues, and speed can sometimes lead to increased hurt. It's almost always best to slow down and listen, which may actually contribute to the victim's healing. At least, it's what children are asking for, and it demonstrates our respect for them and helps them process what happened, learn from it, gain more resilience, and regain the sense of dignity they felt they lost.

It might be tempting to think the solution is just to take away phones, ban the latest problematic social network site, or delete social media altogether. But that's not the solution for a number of reasons....

First, young people are constantly growing their social literacy as they interact with others, and both the socializing and the learning are happening in social media too now. They basically happen everywhere, because the interaction moves fluidly from online to offline, between home and school and through media and devices. Deleting one service or device doesn't really delete the interaction, especially since the context isn't a device or service. For most young people, the context is the peer group or social scene at school.

Second, social media is just another place where their friends gather. Banning a popular social media service can contribute to kids getting marginalized or just left out, whether peers intentionally stop including them or just because they're not "around." Marginalization is one form or aim of bullying and cyberbullying.

Third, when one social outlet gets banned, bad behavior can just move elsewhere - offline or to sites or apps adults have never heard of. Think of it this way: If you got into an argument on the phone and someone made you hang up, did that resolve the argument?

Finally, remember that what we see in a particular site or game chat is rarely the whole picture - it's more likely to be the tip of the iceberg. The "bully" online might've been the one who was victimized offline right beforehand in what could've been a chain reaction. Very often "bullies" are hurting too. We need to try to stop everybody's hurt to work out lasting solutions. But greater visibility because of social media does not mean cyberbullying is a bigger social problem.

And we can collectively shrink the problem further by being good role models and encouraging other adults, including public figures, to engage in civil discourse. Also, we can work to get social-emotional learning into as many schools as possible, giving all children the social and emotional skills that reduce bullying and increase academic and social success.

Top 5 Questions Parents Have About Cyberbullying
1. What is cyberbullying anyway?
For the most part, cyberbullying is bullying, only it happens online or on phones or other connected devices. As for what bullying is, that depends on who you ask, but most experts agree that it involves repeated harassment and some type of power imbalance - and, when young people are involved, it usually has something to do with what's happening with peers at school. It's important to remember that not every mean comment or unpleasant interaction rises to the level of bullying. Sometimes it's just what kids call "drama." We mention this because too many kinds of behavior are called "cyberbullying," which can cause overreaction and inappropriate responses.
2. How likely is it that my child will be cyberbullied?
Some studies say only 4.5% of teens have ever been cyberbullied and others say the figure's as high as 24% (more on this below). Either way, too many students have experienced cyberbullying, but it's important to note that most have not, and most don't bully others. We point this out not to minimize a serious problem, but to emphasize that bullying is not a norm. Kindness, not cruelty, is the norm and, just as with other social problems, communicating the facts reinforces positive behaviors and actually reduces the problem.

As for any one child, it depends so much on the person, his or her peer group and their context. A positive school culture can make a difference, especially for higher-risk populations, such as special-needs students or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. For just about all kids, "online" is social - a shared experience - so no single individual has complete control over what happens in digital spaces. Research has found that a child's emotional makeup and home and school environments predict online risk better than any technology he or she uses. Treating others (and oneself!) with respect and kindness can really help keep social media use positive.
3. How do I know if my child is being cyberbullied?
Even if you have a good feel for your kids' emotional state, social skills, and peer relations - key factors in how well their online (as well as offline) experiences go - it's a good idea to ask whether cyberbullying's going on with them or any of their friends. You may not get a clear answer right away, but engage your kids in occasional conversations about how things are going online as well as offline. See what they know about cyberbullying, ask if they know others who have experienced it, if it's a problem at their school and what they would do if they were cyberbullied or knew about others who were. If they seem obsessed about checking text messages and social apps, it could be because they're worried about what's being said about them. It may not be bullying, but it may be a sign your child needs a little extra support. The federal government's StopBullying.gov website suggests that parents be on the lookout for signs such as difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares, declining grades, not wanting to go to school, feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem.
4. What do I do if my child is cyberbullied?
Cyberbullying cases are as individual as the people involved. So our general advice is not to react or retaliate, block the "bully," and print out and keep evidence in case it'll be needed - can help in some cases. But the most important thing to do is talk with your kids about what's going on, help them think through what happened, how they feel about it, and what they're going to do about it. No one knows how to resolve a situation without understanding it fully. It's important to involve your child in the process, not just take over yourself, because the main goal is to help him or her strengthen the self-confidence that might've been shaken and restore a sense of physical and/or emotional safety.
5. What if my child witnesses cyberbullying or bullies others?
If your child does experience cyberbullying as a witness or bystander, it's important to talk through some strategies as to how they can help their peers. Being kind goes a long way. Suggest your child sit with a child who's being bullied or invite them to hang out. Your child can reach out to the other child via social media by being positive and supportive. It's not helpful to retaliate online as that rarely influences the person doing the bullying and can put your child at risk.

If your child is bullying or cyberbullying others, get them to stop the bullying but try not to overreact.Talk with your child, get all the facts and consider probing further in their devices and accounts. Look for underlying issues and problems that might be affecting your child. While there should be consequences, solutions are more important than punishment.

Additional Resources
Articles Research Reports Great Books

My Secret Bully, a children's book by Trudy Ludwig and illustrated by Abigail Marble

Masterminds and Wingmen and Queen Bees and Wannabes, by Rosalind Wiseman

Kids Are Worth It!, by Barbara Coloroso

School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time and Cyberbullying Prevention and Response: Expert Perspectives, by Drs. Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin

Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Aggression, Threats, and Distress, by Nancy Willard

Cyberbullying prevention curricula for grades 3-5 and 6-12, by Drs. Susan P. Limber, Robin M. Kowalski, and Patricia W. Agatston

Organizations, Research Centers and Other Resources

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Work with your child to find solutions, ensuring they regain dignity and resilience.

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Οδηγός γονέων για το Tik Tok

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Getting started

Although you can view TikTok videos at TikTok.com, downloading the mobile app is the best way to learn about and use the service. New users create an account using their phone number or email, or their Apple, Facebook, Google, Instagram, or Twitter accounts.

New users enter their birthdate when they sign up. Kids under 13 are placed in TikTok for Younger Users, a limited viewing experience with strict privacy and safety protections. Users 13 to 15 years old get a private account by default, though they can change it to public at any time.

TikTok and other digital platforms provide special features and protections for younger users that are updated and improved all the time so it's important for young people to enter their correct birth year when signing up. TikTok, for example, restricts teens ages 13 to 15 from receiving push notifications after 9 p.m. to encourage healthy sleep. Also, accounts ages 13 to 15 are set to private by default, and they cannot send or receive direct messages. Features like suggesting your account to others or video downloads are off by default for 16 and 17 years olds. Again, these safeguards only work if the account holder's birth year is correct.

Understanding TikTok feeds

After signing in, the first feed you'll see is the "For You" feed, with videos recommended by TikTok. As you watch, linger on, and "heart" (similar to "like" on other platforms) videos, and follow accounts, TikTok's algorithm recommends what videos and accounts may interest you. The search icon at the top right of the Home tab lets you search for videos, other creators, sounds, hashtags, and effects.

The other feed is "Following." Accounts you follow appear here. Follower relationships are not mutual by nature, meaning you can follow someone without them following you back and vice versa. This is different from some other apps with a "friend" model where the two people agree to share content.

When you view a TikTok video, a series of icons appear on the right section of the screen.

The top circle icon takes you to the profile of the video's creator.

The Heart icon lets you like the video.

A Comments icon lets you view and post comments on the video.

The Send/Share icon (an arrow) lets you share the video to other platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat, or share via text message or email. You can also report the video here or select "not interested" if you'd rather not see similar videos in your feed.

Some people use TikTok primarily to watch videos, while others both watch and create. As you'll see in the next section, creating and sharing videos is easier than you might think, and there are ways to limit who can see your videos.

Top 4 Questions about TikTok from Parents

1. Should my teen's TikTok account be private?
There are pluses and minuses to having a public account on TikTok. Our research shows that many TikTok users, no matter their age, derive significant joy from interacting with a large global audience. More communication and collaboration can spark greater creativity and lead to a more satisfying online experience. However, a public account will not be appropriate or desirable for every user; making an account private is a way to restrict interactions to only accounts you have approved. Ultimately, this is a personal decision and one we encourage parents to make together with their child, based on open communication about their use of technology. The accounts for TikTok users under 16 are set to private by default and - in most cases - we recommend they remain private until at least the teen's 16th birthday.

2. Does TikTok have a minimum age?
TikTok's Terms of Service state that users must be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account and have full access to the platform, in compliance with the U.S.'s Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Some countries, including Ireland, impose different age restrictions, so if you're outside the United States, check with your local laws.

3. Is TikTok appropriate for children?
While TikTok may be appropriate for most teens, it is not primarily aimed at children under 13. The app, however, provides several ways for users and parents to restrict mature content that may not be appropriate for younger users. Additionally, TikTok has created a separate "experience" that allows users under 13 access only to curated, age-appropriate videos. Users under 13 cannot comment, search, or post their own videos.

4. I've heard that TikTok is a Chinese company. Is that true, and how does that impact teens who use the app?
TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, which was founded in 2012. ByteDance owns and operates numerous products in China, including the popular news platform Toutiao and Douyin, which is a separate app and available only in China. A version of the TikTok app as it exists today became available in the United States in August 2018. The TikTok app is not available in China and, according to a company blog post, stores all TikTok U.S. user data in the United States, with backup redundancy in Singapore. TikTok data centers are located entirely outside of China.

Creating a TikTok video

Tap the + button at the bottom of the screen, grant the app access to your phone's camera and microphone, and start recording. You can add music or other audio to your video (most users do) by tapping Add Sound. Choose from various other tools to make your video unique, including altering the speed and adding Augmented Reality (AR) effects. TikTok videos can range from a few seconds to 10 minutes.

A popular feature for creating videos is "Duets," which lets you film a video alongside an existing TikTok video. The result is a side-by-side video that plays at the same time. To create a Duet, tap the Share arrow button on the video you want to Duet with, then click Duet. Duet is disabled for 13-15 year olds. If you're 16 or older, you can limit who can create Duets with your videos (to Everyone, Friends, or Only Me). (If you're 16 or 17, the setting is defaulted to Friends.) Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Duet to access these settings.

Parental supervision tools

Parents have several options for supervising their teens' experiences on TikTok.
TikTok Digital Wellbeing Tools
TikTok has "Digital Wellbeing" tools for all accounts that set daily screen time and limit certain videos with Restricted Mode, which TikTok says "limits content that may not be appropriate for some viewers." Go to Settings and Privacy > Digital Wellbeing to access the tools.

Our testing shows that the use of Restricted Mode removes videos that may contain some violent and sexual content, resulting in a more PG experience. However, as with restricted modes on all apps, there is always the possibility that something could slip by the filters, and there may be content that might be inappropriate to some but could be appropriate to others, even in the same age range, which is why parents need to think about the settings based on what's best for their teen.

To set up Restricted Mode or establish screen time limits, a parent needs access to their teen's phone to go into the app and enter a code so that only the parent could be able to change it out of Restricted Mode or allow for use beyond the designated screen time.
TikTok Family Pairing
For a robust set of parental control tools, parents can enable Family Pairing, which links a parent's TikTok account to their teen's TikTok account. With Family Pairing turned on, parents can, for example, select how long their teen can use TikTok, what kind of content they can view, whether they have a private or public account, or who can send them direct messages. Turn on Family Pairing at Settings and Privacy > Family Pairing.
Device-level tools
Manage access to TikTok and other apps through settings on Apple and Android devices.

On Apple devices, go to Settings > Screen Time. Or, view the Apple guide to setting restrictions on your child's phone here.

On Android devices, parents can restrict what content can be downloaded or purchased from Google Play based on maturity level. Go to Google Play on your child's Android device. Tap on their profile picture or icon, and navigate to Settings > Family, where you can turn Parental controls on or off, set a security PIN, and adjust the settings. Turn Parental Controls On and create a PIN that a user must enter to change these controls. Then select the highest content rating you would like to allow for purchases or downloads. Parents also can use a Google feature called Family Link to block specific apps on their child's phone.

For general advice about parental controls, see ConnectSafely's Family Guide to Parental Controls, and for device-specific information, see Parental Control for Devices and Networks.

Deciding to use parental supervision tools

Whether or not to use parental supervision tools from TikTok, the device maker, or an outside company, is personal. There is no "one size fits all" answer, and a lot depends on the child. Both age and maturity matter. Some questions to think about:

Do they generally follow family rules?

How likely are they to take risks?

How is their impulse control?

Are they careful with their device-or a device they borrow, say from a parent or older sibling-and sensitive information like passwords?

Most young teens just starting to use TikTok would benefit from a monitored experience and short discussions about why you chose the settings you did, such as restricting direct messages. But the long-term goal should be to wean them away from monitoring tools. As the saying goes, "we're raising adults, not kids," and it's important to teach critical thinking skills to help children make good decisions on and offline now and as they mature.

Also, remember that you are your child's most important role model. Develop healthy habits around technology and social media that you model for and discuss with your child, such as asking people (including your children) before posting their image online, managing your screen time, especially when around other people, including family members, keeping online comments civil and respectful, vetting news and information to avoid spreading false information, and any other tools or habits that keep your social media use safe and positive.

For more about parental control tools, visit ConnectSafely.org/controls.
Device-level tools
Manage access to TikTok and other apps through settings on Apple and Android devices.

On Apple devices, go to Settings > Screen Time. Or, view the Apple guide to setting restrictions on your child's phone here.

On Android devices, parents can restrict what content can be downloaded or purchased from Google Play based on maturity level. Go to Google Play on your child's Android device. Tap on their profile picture or icon, and navigate to Settings > Family, where you can turn Parental controls on or off, set a security PIN, and adjust the settings. Turn Parental Controls On and create a PIN that a user must enter to change these controls. Then select the highest content rating you would like to allow for purchases or downloads. Parents also can use a Google feature called Family Link to block specific apps on their child's phone.

For general advice about parental controls, see ConnectSafely's Family Guide to Parental Controls, and for device-specific information, see Parental Control for Devices and Networks - ConnectSafely.

Talking with your teens about being online

We can't overestimate the importance of having conversations with your teens about their use of online platforms, focusing on both the benefits and the risks. It should be a calm conversation, never a lecture or an inquisition. Just ask general questions like "what are your favorite apps, and why?" and "what do you do to protect your privacy and safety?" (TikTok's Family Pairing feature will also suggest questions for parents and guardians to encourage these conversations. Learn more here.) You might even want to ask them for their advice on how you can protect your own safety, privacy, and security. You might be surprised and impressed by how much they know. Teens are often more aware of online risks and how to manage them than many adults.

Of course, you also need to talk about the risks associated with all interactive technology, such as harm to body image, engaging in dangerous behavior, and harms associated with excessive use, false information, and more.

Yes, there are risks associated with being online, but that's true with all technologies and almost all activities, including cooking, driving, and sports. You can never avoid all risks, but you can manage risks, minimize the chances of something going wrong and learn to recover when bad things happen.

By speaking with your teen, you'll get a much more accurate portrayal of how your teen manages risks associated with online platforms and probably get additional insight into your teen's attitudes towards risk in general, which become very important when your teen starts to drive or ride in other teens' cars, get into romantic relationships and engage in other activities which may involve risk.

Also, be aware that all risks are not equal and don't affect everyone the same way. For some teens, for example, a cyberbullying incident can be extremely consequential, but for others, perhaps mildly annoying. How your teen - and you - handle situations can have a big impact on how well they are resolved.

Parents are rightfully concerned about who their teens interact with online, but "stranger danger" is often exaggerated. That's not to say that bad things don't happen, but severe negative experiences are uncommon, and that's partly because most teens are pretty savvy about who they interact with. Still, it's a good idea to go over some basic safety guidelines with your teen to make sure they are aware, for example, of what types of conversations to avoid and how to report anyone who is abusive and block anyone who is rude, creepy or otherwise engages in inappropriate conduct or contact.

Perhaps the most common risks of digital platforms are distress over "FOMO" (fear of missing out) and sadness when teens compare themselves to others who may appear to be better looking, more popular, and generally seem to be living a better life. Remind your teen that things are not always as they appear and that some of these beautiful people are using filters, make-up, lighting, and - in some cases - even plastic surgery to look inauthentically "perfect" and to present a highlight reel of their life. For more, see ConnectSafely's Resisting the 'Pressure to be Perfect' and the Jed Foundation's post on Understanding Food and Body Image Struggles.

Online challenges aren't necessarily bad

You may have heard about dangerous online challenges like "devious licks," but the majority of viral challenges aren't dangerous, and studies show most kids don't participate in dangerous online challenges on TikTok or other apps. Also, TikTok's Community Guidelines prohibit videos that promote or glorify dangerous behavior and the company says that it swiftly removes violative content when it becomes aware of it.

While there have been problematic challenges on TikTok and other platforms, most challenges are fun, light-hearted activities that people film themselves doing to share with and connect to the broader online community. A recent challenge that went viral is the 3-minute makeup challenge, which involves people attempting to do their entire makeup routine in less than 3 minutes to sometimes hilarious results. You may also remember the ice bucket challenge, another well-known challenge that involved people recording themselves pouring buckets of ice over their heads, which raised millions of dollars for ALS research.

Still, it's important to talk with your kids about dangerous internet challenges and hoaxes, which are pranks or tricks created to make viewers believe something frightening, but which aren't true, and the peer pressure to participate. Some physical challenges are indeed dangerous, especially if the person isn't well trained, such as challenges that involve performing a backflip, for example, or any other activity that requires a special skill. TikTok recently developed a guide to help parents and teens learn about online challenges and the steps they can take to assess the level of risk.

Blocking and reporting

TikTok uses a combination of policies and human- and machine-based moderation practices to block and remove content that violates its Community Guidelines. You can also report content or other users who you believe may violate the guidelines.

Block a user: You can block another user for any reason. A blocked user will not be able to follow you. They also will not be able to view, like, or comment on your videos. To block another user, tap on the Profile and the three dots in the upper right corner. Select Block.

Report a profile: Tap on the Profile you want to report and the three dots. Tap Report.

Report a video: Long press on the video and tap Report.

Report a comment: Long press on the comment and tap Report.

Report a message: Open the conversation and tap the icon at the top right. Tap Report.

Cyberbullying

Parents should remind their teens to speak with a trusted adult and/or peer if they are ever on the receiving end of bullying or unwanted content, and encourage young users to report content that is negative or otherwise objectionable. And, of course, always encourage your teens to be kind and considerate in their use of TikTok. One helpful tool is the ReThink App for Android and iOS that "looks over your shoulder" while you type and prompts you to rethink sending anything the app deems to be problematic. For more advice on talking to your kids and teens about cyberbullying, see ConnectSafely's A Parent's Guide to Cyberbullying.

Another helpful resource is TikTok's bullying prevention guide, which is designed to help you identify bullying behavior and figure out how to take action if you or someone you know is being bullied.

TikTok also offers several comment controls to help keep bullying off the platform like comment filters and a prompt for people to reconsider posting unkind comments. (Learn more about the tools here.)

Privacy

You have the option to make your account private. This allows you to approve or deny followers. It also means that only your approved followers can view your videos. To minimize risk and maximize safety, consider carefully each follower request before accepting it. To make an account private, go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy.

There are several other useful ways TikTok allows you to protect your privacy and customize your experience:

Prevent other users from receiving suggestions to follow you. Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Suggest Your Account to Others.

Prevent others from commenting on your videos or limit comments to friends only. Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Comments.

Turn off or limit to friends only who can send you direct messages. Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Direct Messages.

Turn off Duets or limit the ability to Duet with your videos to friends only. Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Duet.

TikTok's privacy policy outlines the information that is collected, why it is collected, and the options you have to limit the information you share. The policy states that TikTok gives "advertisers reports about the types of people (not the names of individuals) seeing their ads and how their ads are performing." Users may prevent their data from being shared by opting out of personalized ads. Go to Settings and Privacy > Privacy > Ads Personalization.

Resources from TikTok

TikTok has several educational resources for parents, including a Guardian's Guide in its Safety Center, a Well-Being Guide, and an ongoing blog series with helpful tips to customize your TikTok experience. These tools are useful resources for parents to begin discussions about TikTok's in-app safety tools. ConnectSafely also has safety resources in addition to this guide, including a Quick-Guide, video interviews with TikTok executives and a short video that highlights key safety features at ConnectSafely.org/tiktok.

Closing thoughts for parents

It's easy for parents to feel intimidated or "out of the loop" when it comes to TikTok or any online platform but relax, you don't have to be a technology expert to know how to help your teen safely use TikTok or any other app. The "rules" for using any site or service are pretty similar. Everyone should be respectful of themselves and others, be mindful of what they post and understand how to use any privacy settings, security tools, or blocking and reporting mechanisms.

And it's not just about TikTok because there are other apps your teens use or will use, including new ones that may pop up at any time. While each app has its own unique features and safety tools, the risks and approach to managing risks are generally similar among all apps that allow people to interact.

So, no matter what tech your kids use, it's important to keep the lines of communication as open as possible and to have ongoing conversations about what's appropriate for them in terms of privacy settings, time spent online, and the types of activities they're engaging in. It generally works better to talk with your teen about their favorite tools-with genuine interest, not fear-because they're more likely to come to you when they need help, and you're much more likely to be kept in the loop about the technology that they use. As always, everyone needs to be respectful of themselves and others, be mindful of the effects of what they post on other people, and understand that anything they post can impact their reputation and, possibly, their future.

Finally, although TikTok can bring joy and happiness to teens, it's important that they take off their headphones and put down their phones to interact with people in real life.
TikTok provides financial support to ConnectSafely. ConnectSafely is solely responsible for the content of this guide.

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Parent's Guide to TikTok - ConnectSafely

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Parents don't need to be tech experts to help teens use TikTok safely.

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There are a variety of control tools and monitoring tools available to parents. Some are software products or mobile apps that you buy or subscribe to. Others are free and some are already present on your phone, tablet or computer operating systems or available from your internet service provider. Some extensions work within popular browsers to limit access to certain types of content. There are internet routers and gateways that offer controls across your entire network. Some apps and sites have their own parental controls.

Depending on the product, these tools can:

Filter out (block) inappropriate websites & other content

Limit the ability to download or purchase apps or certain types of apps

Monitor and report on sites or apps a child uses

Monitor what your child is posting or viewing on social media

Monitor and/or limit what your child can type or is exposed to, such as cyberbullying or hate speech

Limit total screen time or screen time of specific apps or types of apps

Limit the ability to watch videos, movies or TV shows based on age ratings

Block music with inappropriate lyrics

Control the use and access of certain devices on your home network

Limit what a child can find using a search engine

Ask a child or teen to what they're about to send or post if it may be inappropriate or hurtful to others.

Filters can usually prevent young children from accidentally stumbling on troubling or inappropriate material, but they are less effective at keeping older kids and teens from deliberately visiting blocked sites. There are several ways to get around filters, including using another computer, mobile phone, or tablet that's not filtered. Whether and how to use filtering and monitoring tools is a parental decision that should be based on your understanding of what's best for your child.

There are some children and teens who need very strict controls and others who can do just fine without them, based on conversations and adherence to household rules. Only you know what's best for your child.

Monitoring tools can inform parents of what their kids are doing but some kids - especially teens - feel that it's an invasion of their privacy and many would argue that it's not necessary or helpful. When it comes to monitoring tools, another risk is "too much information." Do you really want to look at every text message and review every website your child visits?

Every family must make its own decision based on a number of factors including:

The child's age and maturity

The child's sensitivity to certain types of content that may be "appropriate" but still upsetting

The child's propensity to take risks

The child's impulse control

The child's willingness to adhere to family rules

The parent's values and concerns over types of content and activities

Any special circumstances or needs that affect your child

The first thing you should do is consider what, if anything, you need for your child. Do you want to block age-inappropriate sites, do you want to restrict what apps they can download, do you want to protect them from being cyberbullied or bullying others? Do you want to know what your kids are doing online and, if so, how much information do you want? Some programs will give you nearly everything; others give you a summary, and some just flag what they consider to be troublesome content or behavior.

Before you spend money, check out the tools that may already be controls on your devices or available from the maker of your device or operating system.

Free family-friendly tools and apps include:

There are of course many third-party tools, some are free and others cost money. ConnectSafely does not recommend specific tools, but here are links to credible independent sources for reviews of parental control tools:

Many internet service providers have parental control options as part of the settings for their gateways (a single device that includes both an internet modem and a router) or other devices. There are also third-party routers and devices that work with PCs, game consoles, phones and any other devices that are either hardwired or connected by WiFi to your home network. These devices, however, may not work if your child's device has a cellular connection that doesn't require access to the home network. The service you already use may offer these controls and - if you have a third-party router - check with that company's website to see if they offer parental controls.

It's not uncommon for two or more family members to have access to the same device. Many devices, including Macs, Windows PCs, Android phones and TV streaming devices, allow you to create more than one account so that you can have different settings for different users. Other controls have passwords that enable adults or older children to bypass controls. Check with your device maker's or operating system's website for instructions to see what options are available.

There are apps that you can use to limit how much time your child spends on a device or a service. Some are built-into devices themselves and others are part of services, apps or games aimed at children. These limits can help you control not only how much time a child spends using the device but the time-of-day as well, allowing you to set a "bed-time" for when the device must be turned off. These tools can be useful, especially with younger children, but should always be part of a larger discussion about the use of devices and media. Many parental control tools offer screen time manager as one of their features.

While many don't even allow parents to secretly control or monitor their child's online behavior, some apps can run in "stealth mode" so that the child may not be aware that they're in use. Except in very rare situations, we at ConnectSafely don't recommend the use of stealth mode. As a general rule, it's a good idea to talk with your kids about the controls and why you're using them. Besides, your child will likely figure out it's there anyway and if you do find something that concerns you, you don't want their first response to be "why are you spying on me." It's better to get that out of the way at the beginning.

Some social media services and apps have their own controls, such as limiting the type of content your child can see or who your child can interact with. Sometimes these controls kick in automatically depending on your child's age, while others give parents the ability to manage or even monitor their child's experience with that service. It's a good idea to look at the service's default settings for your child's age group and see if you wish to adjust it if possible. Because of these safeguards, it's important that children be honest about their age because they may not be available or they may be different if the service doesn't know your child's age.

Beyond parental controls, most social media apps and services have settings to control privacy and security, who you interact with and more. Parents should talk with their kids about these controls and what is appropriate for their children. For more, check out ConnectSafely's Parent's Guides and to popular apps and services.

Google offers SafeSearch and Bing has its own feature to restrict the sites you can find. These settings do a generally good job at restricting what your child can find in a search but they're not perfect and they only work on the search engines where they are configured.

Most streaming services and devices also let parents control the type of content their kids can watch. Check with both your streaming device such as Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, as well as services you subscribe to for what controls they offer. Also, be aware that YouTube and other online video services have content that may be inappropriate for your child. You can block the entire service or, in some cases, specific types of videos or you can restrict your kids to only child-friendly services like YouTube Kids or other family-friendly brands like Amazon Kids, Disney and PBSKids.

Parental control tools only work on devices, networks or services where they are installed. They likely won't work if your child logs on away from home on someone else's device and network-level controls may not work if a child connects via a cellular network or a WiFi network away from home. And, while parental controls can be used as part of your efforts to teach your children good online habits, they are not a substitute for parenting and don't - on their own - typically teach the important traits of self-control, critical thinking and consideration for others. They also don't work once a child grows up and away from their parents, which is why it's so important to teach and reinforce critical thinking skills and self-control.

How you act in front of your children can have a bigger impact than on what tools you're using or what you say. It's fine to put time-limits on your children's use of technology but make sure they don't see you over-using your technology, especially during family time when you should be interacting with them.

Your child will be an adult before you know it and it will be up to them - not you - to regulate what they do and how they act online. If you use filters or monitoring tools, think about how to wean your kids away from them as they get older and more responsible. Some products give parents the ability to gradually loosen up controls or monitoring as a child matures. As children get into their teen years, consider loosening up or removing any filters or monitoring products, especially if they're older teens who will soon be on their own and fully responsible for their own online and offline behavior.

When it comes to parenting, one-size definitely doesn't fit all. Most of our advice here is for average kids with average risk but there are kids whose needs are different who may require stronger controls or monitoring. As with most parenting decisions, you need to think about your specific child and specific needs as well as your own risk tolerance.

Ultimately, the only filter that can fully protect your child for life isn't the one that runs on a computer or a phone but the one that runs in the software between their ears. It's important to teach critical thinking skills and media literacy to help children make good decisions on and offline now and as they mature. With any luck, your child will grow up, become independent and maybe even move away from home, so - ultimately - it's important they develop their own controls rather than relying on those imposed by parents or schools.

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Filters can usually prevent young children from accidentally stumbling on troubling or inappropriate material, but they are less effective at keeping older kids and teens from deliberately visiting blocked sites.

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