I’m low-key biding my time until the teens in my life replace their Amazon Christmas wish lists with links to TikTok Shop. TikTok users are just one swipe away from tens of millions of products that can be purchased without leaving the app. But is TikTok Shop safe for kids? Let’s find out.
TikTok Shop is an online marketplace where users can buy and sell products inside the app.
Far from the static experience of other selling platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, TikTok Shop is an interactive experience featuring influencer content, personalized recommendations, and embedded social features like sharing.
TikTok Shop can be accessed through the “Shop” tab. Creators can also include links to TikTok Shop products in their videos. These promotional posts amount to semi-stealth commercials and frequently appear on users’ For You Page.
Officially, teen accounts can’t use TikTok Shop. But like most things social media, the reality is more nuanced, with a few workarounds for motivated kids. Here’s what I discovered when I tested it:
Users under 18 are prohibited from accessing TikTok Shop. In my test account for a 13-year-old, “Shop” didn’t even appear in the header menu. But I was able to create an adult account with only a fake birthdate and purchase from TikTok Shop.
I ran into more substantial barriers when I tried to become a seller on TikTok Shop using my fake account. I was prompted to upload a government-issued ID before continuing. Enterprising teens could figure a way around this, but it’s certainly a strong barrier.
I was also asked to provide a Social Security number. I bailed before that step because I’m not trying to give that level of information to TikTok, so I can’t verify if TikTok cross-references social security numbers with the age of the holder. But if so, this step is much harder (and much more illegal) to game.
I was prompted to enter the same identifying documents as when I tried to become a seller.
A number of sources state that age verification isn’t required to create affiliate accounts and earn commission from promoting TikTok Shop products. This information appears to be outdated. My testing found this loophole has been closed.
TL;DR: It’s quite a heavy lift for your child to sell or market TikTok Shop merchandise, but purchasing items is only one fabricated birthday away.
Because teen accounts can’t access TikTok Shop, parental controls don’t apply.
Scams, deepfake doctors selling dubious health products, and the risk of impulsive buying make TikTok Shop not safe for kids. Age verification is easy to fake, though, so make sure they’re on a teen account and monitor their use with BrightCanary.
Learn more about parental controls on TikTok, and find out how to limit purchases with Apple Screen Time controls.
