5 TikTok Alternatives for Kids

TikTok is mega popular with kids, but it’s also super risky. We looked at five apps to see if they are safe versions of TikTok for kids. We based our decision on how actively the apps moderate content and prevent concerning material for minors, how robust the parental controls are, and whether kids can easily get around age verification measures.

TikTok Alternatives for Kids	Our Verdict
Coverstar	👍 Give it a try!
Zigazoo	👍 Give it a try!
Marco Polo	👍 Give it a try!
TikTok Under 13 Experience	👎 Steer clear!
Triller	👎 Steer clear!

Coverstar

Coverstar is a short-form video social media app that promises a safe, supportive alternative to TikTok for tweens and teens.

Coverstar pros: 

• Takes active steps to prevent bullying and explicit material. 
• Moderated content (human and AI). 
• No DMs.
• Strict community guidelines. 
• Easy reporting tools. 
• Privacy controls. 
• Parent permission required. 

Coverstar cons: 

• No age verification. 
• Ads targeted at kids.
• No parental controls. 

Coverstar verdict: 

👍 Give it a try! 

Concerns about a lack of parental controls are eased by the fact that the app is inherently quite safe. And although there’s no age verification, the parental consent requirement is robust.

Zigazoo

Zigazoo is a TikTok-style social media platform centered around age-appropriate video challenges. 

Zigazoo pros: 

• Login is linked to parents. 
• Parent permission required.
• Parents can log in directly to view and manage accounts.
• Strict community guidelines.
• Human content moderation. 
• All videos must be approved by moderators. 

Zigazoo cons: 

• No parental controls.
• Kids can change settings.
• No age verification.
• No global privacy settings.
• Parental permission is easy to bypass for in-app purchases.

Zigazoo verdict: 

👍 Give it a try! 

We have some concerns about the fact that kids can change their settings and the lack of global privacy settings. But because parents are able to log in directly to view and manage their child’s account, we feel good about recommending the app. 

Did you know? BrightCanary monitors your child’s activity across all the apps they use, including the apps on this list. You’ll get insights into what they type, their emotional well-being, summaries of their activity, and more.

TikTok Under 13 Experience 

Kids under 13 who sign up for TikTok will be automatically directed to the Under 13 Experience, which is designed and curated with younger users in mind. 

TikTok Under 13 Experience pros: 

• All accounts are private.
• Users can create but not post videos.
• App use is limited to 1 hour.
• TikTok partners with Common Sense to curate the For You and Discover feeds with age-appropriate videos. 
• Users can’t comment on or share videos.
• No DMs.
• Parental controls.

TikTok Under 13 Experience cons: 

• Flimsy age-verification process. 
• Easy to create a second account and bypass age restrictions. 
• Risk of addiction is well documented, including by the company. 

TikTok Under 13 Experience verdict: 

👎 Steer clear!

We like the Common Sense-curated feed, private accounts, and the fact that users can’t post videos. But these pros are overshadowed by some pretty big cons. Chief among them is the fact that, once parents have okayed downloading the Under 13 Experience, kids can easily create a second account and bypass TikTok’s flimsy age verification. Plus, we really don’t trust TikTok’s algorithm. 

Triller

Triller is a video-based social media platform for people over 13 that lets users browse, create, and post videos. 

Triller pros: 

• Accounts can be set to private. 
• Can turn off data collection.
• Ability to block users.

Triller cons: 

• No age verification. 
• No parental controls 
• DMs with no ability to limit messages to contacts. 
• Users can directly pay each other. 
• Tons of inappropriate content. 
• Location of videos can be revealed. 

Triller verdict: 

👎 Steer clear!

We’re not sure how Triller seems to show up on every list of safe TikTok alternatives for kids. It has red flags all over it. This app isn’t even suitable for young teens. 

Marco Polo

Marco is a video chat social media app, with a turn-taking format and the ability to send messages to groups of up to 200 people. Users have to be 13 to use it.

Marco Polo pros: 

• No public feed. 
• No ability to connect with strangers.
• Can turn off the feature that notifies contacts a user is online. 
• Users can restrict others from downloading or forwarding videos they send. 

Marco Polo cons: 

• No age verification. 
• No parental controls. 

Marco Polo verdict: 

👍 Give it a try!

While it doesn’t mirror the TikTok experience to the same degree some of the other apps do, Marco Polo is a good option with strong privacy settings. If your teen wants to share videos, but you only want them to be able to chat with people they know, give Marco Polo a try.   

Wrap-up: What TikTok alternatives are safe for kids?  

We reviewed five TikTok alternatives to see if they’re safe for kids. Coverstar, Zigazoo, and Marco Polo all get the thumbs up from us, while Triller and TikTok Under 13 Experience get a thumbs down. 

To keep an eye on what your child is doing online, try BrightCanary. The app uses advanced technology to help you monitor your child’s activity on the apps they use the most. Download today to get started for free.