Arkansas – By logging in with a specific username and password, the new TikTok scam involves adults granting minors access to TikTok accounts only visible.
The minors are then encouraged to post explicit videos under the setting “only me” under the visibility tab. Once videos are uploaded, anyone with the password and usernames has access to view and save the footage. most videos involve those between the ages of 8-13.
According to Becka Riley, an Arkansas, she believes minors should not be allowed to have their own social media, especially unsupervised. “Minors should not be roped into stuff like that, it’s something that parents need to teach their kids and talk to their kids about,” Riley said.
Since TikTok does not require extensive age verification, it allows minors of any age to create a profile.
The majority of TikTok users range from ages 10 to 19. “In my house, anything that has any online of any sort on it is monitored through my phone and she has kids messenger to message her friends but it all comes to my phone,” Riley added.
She also said that she does personally have a TikTok and she and her children watch videos together so their time seeing the app is fully monitored. She also makes sure that she keeps an open line of communication between her and her children. “The best advice I can give is just to be honest with your children and let them know, don’t just tell them no, let them know as to why you’re saying no and they’re just going to be more honest with you,” Riley said.
According to another parent Nairuti Prajapati, though she doesn’t allow her 8-year-old daughter to have TikTok, as she gets older it is the responsibility as a parent to warn their children of dangers ahead of time. “It’s going to come at a certain point in their life, I know that. and we can just try our best to make them understand what is good and what is bad. that’s all in our hands as a parent.”
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge released a statement as well.
“As the mother of a three-year-old daughter, I know firsthand the importance of parents being aware of what their children are doing online. It is crucial to take all necessary steps to protect our most precious Arkansans from those who want to do them harm. Parents need to know how social media platforms work and what their children are seeing, doing and who they are talking to on social sites like TikTok, Snapchat, or Instagram,” Rutledge said.
Rutledge also shared that anyone looking for more information on resources for parents and students on internet safety can visit arkansasag.gov