My 12 year old is begging for TikTok. I keep saying no but honestly YouTube is basically the same thing except it's longer videos. Am I being a hypocrite? He's responsible with other stuff. Should I let him have TikTok with parental controls or just hold the line? Genuinely asking because I don't actually know what's worse.
Honestly they're basically the same evil at that age. YouTube has just as much trash content as TikTok and the algorithm is just as aggressive. If you're going to let her have one, at least TikTok has shorter videos so it's easier to set time limits. Either way you need hard rules about screen time.
Neither is ideal but if I had to pick I'd do YouTube with strict oversight. At least the videos are longer so they're not constantly refreshing and falling down rabbit holes every 15 seconds like TikTok.
YouTube has better content moderation tools honestly. I can set up the restricted mode and actually see what my kids are watching. TikTok's algorithm is a black hole. That said neither is ideal but YouTube feels less like I'm playing russian roulette with what my daughter sees.
My 8 year old has been asking too. I went with YouTube because at least there's a kids version and parental controls that actually work. TikTok just feels wrong for that age. Might be different when he's older but 12 is still young for that platform imo.
I'd lean YouTube honestly because at least you can see the history of what she's watching and there's more educational content mixed in. TikTok is designed to be infinitely scrollable and addictive. That said neither is great for a 12 year old in unlimited doses.
The real answer is neither if you can help it but I get it. When my ex brings them back I let them decompress with YouTube for like an hour. At least I can see the watch history and there's some actual educational content mixed in. TikTok feels different, like it's designed to be addictive in a scary way.
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YouTube is probably the lesser evil but only if you actually monitor what she's watching. TikTok's algorithm is specifically engineered to be addictive to kids. If you're going to say yes to one, YouTube with parental controls and time limits is the way to go.