My 14yo daughter is on TikTok constantly. Like every free second. I've tried limiting it but she finds ways around it. She's hiding her screen time numbers, deleting her history. I don't want to be the overbearing parent but I'm genuinely concerned about the algorithm feeding her stuff all day. How are other dads handling this? Should I just take the phone?
This is my current nightmare with my 12 year old. I've tried everything - app limits, taking the phone away, having conversations about it. Nothing sticks. She just finds workarounds or acts like I'm ruining her life. Would love to hear what actually works for people.
At 14 that's tough because social media IS where their friends are, you know? My approach has been less about banning it and more about teaching her to notice how it makes her feel. We do digital-free dinners and I'm honest when I catch myself doom scrolling too. Models the behavior.
Have you considered what she's getting out of it? Like is it just entertainment or is she anxious without it? Might help figure out the real issue. My kids were similar until I realized they were using it to cope with school stress.
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Yeah the constant TikTok thing is wild. I've noticed with mine that the algorithm is specifically designed to keep them hooked. We've had some real talks about how the app works and why it's so hard to stop. That seemed to help more than just saying no.