Best privacy settings for TikTok (UK parent walkthrough)
The TikTok privacy settings UK parents should switch on first, including Family Pairing, Restricted Mode, DM controls and download protections.
TikTok's defaults are aimed at engagement, not privacy. A short setup on your child's phone, plus your own Family Pairing account, removes most of the everyday risk: strangers in DMs, public videos, suggested-account exposure and unexpected downloads.
Go through the settings below in order. Each takes under a minute and shows what to set, where to find it, and why it matters.
Step-by-step
Turn the account Private
Profile → Menu → Settings and Privacy → Privacy → Private Account. Tip: Set to On. Only approved followers can see videos. This is the single most important setting.
Link Family Pairing
Profile → Menu → Settings and Privacy → Family Pairing → link parent and teen accounts. Tip: Lets you manage screen time, DMs, search and restricted mode from your own phone.
Turn Restricted Mode on
Settings and Privacy → Content Preferences → Restricted Mode. Tip: Filters out adult and mature content. Imperfect but a useful extra layer.
Limit direct messages
Settings and Privacy → Privacy → Direct messages → set to No one or Friends. Tip: For under-16s TikTok disables DMs by default; check it has not been switched back on.
Disable video downloads
Settings and Privacy → Privacy → Downloads → Off. Tip: Stops strangers saving your child's videos to share elsewhere.
Switch off Suggest your account to others
Settings and Privacy → Privacy → Suggest your account to others → turn all four toggles off. Tip: Stops contacts, Facebook friends, people with their phone number and people who opened shared links from being recommended their profile.
Turn off personalised ads
Settings and Privacy → Ads → Personalised ads → Off. Tip: Reduces tracking-based targeting; teens cannot consent to this and should not be targeted.
Enable two-step verification
Settings and Privacy → Security → 2-step verification → Email + SMS. Tip: Stops account takeover, which is how many abuse and impersonation cases start.
Settings to check
- Private Account
- Family Pairing
- Restricted Mode
- Direct messages
- Downloads
- Suggest your account to others
- Personalised ads
- 2-step verification
What not to do
- Do not assume your child kept the recommended settings after an app update.
- Do not use the same password on the app as on email or banking.
- Do not allow sign-in via a social account you do not also control.
- Do not skip enabling two-factor authentication.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.