TikTok emerged as a popular social media platform after its release in 2016. It quickly gained recognition worldwide, especially among teenagers. It is recognized as the most popular social media platform, turning people into stars overnight.
Despite the popularity and strict community guidelines, cyberbullying has impacted this platform as well. Almost 64% of users on TikTok report their bullying experience. These figures might look high but you might be surprised to learn that it is still the safest platform, unlike others including YouTube and Snapchat.
To thrive on this platform, it is crucial to understand what cyberbullying is and how you can prevent it on TikTok. Moreover, make yourself aware with TikTok's built-in safety features and community guidelines. It will keep bullies away and protect your digital space.
Before you get into prevention, let's understand the concept of cyberbullying on TikTok.
Bullying by using digital platforms is referred to as cyberbullying. In particular, when someone uses TikTok to bully other people, it is called TikTok cyberbullying. Bullying can happen through TikTok comments, direct messages, threats, misinformation (rumours), and abusive language.
Cyberbullying is a serious issue that can’t be overlooked because users under 25 who have experienced bullying twice are more likely to self-harm and have suicidal thoughts. Social media platforms have strict community guidelines to prevent cyberbullying and also have a reporting system to protect users from bullying.
The popularity of TikTok poses a higher risk of cyberbullying on TikTok. The usage of social media has intensified over the past few years, and has also given a place for bullying to grow. The number of teenage users on social platforms is higher than ever, and they are most vulnerable to cyberbullying.
Although TikTok has strict community guidelines, people still figure out ways to bully others. Unlike other traditional methods, TikTok allows a bully to approach the victim at any time via TikTok messages, comments, and even on TikTok live.
Cyberbullying often goes unnoticed, or the people bullying others do not get held accountable for their actions because they try to conceal it as “jokes.” It is crucial to understand when a joke goes beyond boundaries. If it is hurting your emotions, do not stand back and take action.
Ignoring constant bullying can be harmful to you and encourages bullies to harass others on TikTok. It impacts you mentally, disturbs your emotions, and also causes physical unease, like loss of sleep and anxiety. Do not hesitate to take action for your well-being.
If you are a victim of cyberbullying, report it to the authorities for strict action and take the following measures to prevent cyberbullying on TikTok.
Cyberbullying on TikTok is addressed actively by TikTok and the governments of respective countries to provide a safe digital space for all. TikTok viewers are also encouraged through campaigns to report incidents of cyberbullying.
Ignoring harassment is not a solution. It only worsens the situation. If you do not feel ready to report the incident, share it with family or friends. These things take a toll on your mental health, but when you discuss them with someone close, the stress gets relieved.
TikTok’s Community Guidelines outline the platform’s rules to maintain a safe and positive environment. These guidelines prohibit behaviors like harassment, hate speech, and harmful content. Understanding these rules helps users recognize what is acceptable and what is not on TikTok.
By knowing the guidelines, users can better identify when content crosses the line and when to report it. This awareness empowers users to protect themselves and others from cyberbullying. It also helps users contribute to a respectful and supportive TikTok community.
TikTok offers several safety features designed to protect users from cyberbullying and harassment. These include options to block or report abusive users quickly and easily. Users can also filter comments, hiding offensive or inappropriate messages automatically.
Additionally, TikTok allows users to control interactions by limiting who can comment, duet, or react to their content. Enabling these settings reduces exposure to potential bullies and helps create a safer experience. Activating two-factor authentication further secures accounts from unauthorized access.
Keep a record of everything that happened to you. All the harassing messages, hate comments, videos made to bully you, and threats will be your evidence to report the bullies. Cyberbullying on TikTok is an emerging issue, and to address it properly you must have all the records.
Take screenshots, save posts, and videos on your mobile phone, also look for any information that is relevant to you so it can be used in the court of law. Keep notes of dates and time to make your evidence more strong.
One of the best ways to prevent cyberbullying on TikTok is to not engage with the bullies. Bullies on TikTok have the goal to provoke you or make you feel worthless in order to get a reaction. The best response to such behavior is silence.
Stay out of an argument and report the situation to let it be handled by the higher authorities. This practice will fail the attempt of cyberbullying and may discourage the person from bullying other TikTok viewers.
If you're an individual who actively uses TikTok or any other social media platform, make yourself aware of all the things regarding the platform you are using. How things work on the platform and what to do if something goes wrong. Consume the information that will help you thrive on social media.
The belief held by many adults that social media platforms are the most likely places for cyberbullying is frequently accurate. However, many adults might not be aware of the potential threat of cyberbullying among adolescents, given that over 98% of American teens have access to a smartphone. With the common access to smartphones and the rapid advancement of technology, it's critical to keep an eye out for any hazards at all times.
Sometimes, a TikTok cyberbullied person looks the same as any normal individual. But when you look closely, you observe that they are not willing to talk about their day or disclose any personal information to you.
Other signs to recognize cyberbullied people are loss of interest in favourite things, low activity, poor mind-body coordination due to anxiety, depression, loss of sleep, and a change in eating habits.
Most cases of intense cyberbullying involve the personal data of the victim. To prevent cyberbullying on TikTok, it is recommended to keep your data secure. Bullies often create fake accounts and impersonate you to abuse others and get away with it. Keep a check on your socials, look for any information relevant and sensitive to you, take actions to remove it.
After retaliating against their abusers, some victims turn into bullies themselves. The victim and the bully participate in a sort of back-and-forth argument in an attempt to defend themselves, which tends to intensify the bullying behavior.
Be mindful of others' privacy and feelings when using the internet. Recognize the temptation to strike back, but know that it's preferable to stay out of it for the long run. Protect yourself from becoming a person whom you do not like.
Safeguard your password and other private information from prying eyes. Never leave passwords or other identifying information where others can see it. Also, never give out this information to anyone, even your best friend. If others know it, take the time to change it now!
Never open messages (emails, TikTok, texts, Facebook messages, etc.) from people you don’t know, or from those you know who often bully others. Delete them without reading. They could contain viruses that automatically infect your device if opened. Also, never click on links to pages that are sent from someone you don’t know. These too could contain a virus designed to collect your personal or private information or install a backdoor on your device.
Start a movement, create a club, build a campaign, or host an event to bring awareness to cyberbullying. While you may understand what it is, it’s not until others are aware of it too that we can truly prevent it from occurring.
Cyberbullying is a common issue with millions of victims all around the world. These people must stand together to form a community that will fight bullying and make the digital space safe for themselves and the coming generation.
Today, cyberbullying carries several different legal implications, including criminal harassment, intimidation, extortion, identity theft, incitement of hatred, and defamatory libel. Understand your rights and report cyberbullying actively to prevent it.
Do not let the bullies roam free, hold them accountable for their wrongdoing. Cyberbullying cannot be eradicated unless we start naming and shaming the bullies. Either you are a victim or a TikTok viewer reports any incident you see to the concerned authorities for safety.
TikTok is a great platform for creators as well as viewers. One can find tons of opportunities and grow their careers. But like other social platforms, TikTok is also a space for bullies, which can impact you emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Ignoring or bearing the harassment is not a solution. You must stand against it, educate yourself about harassment, and also educate other people on TikTok. This blog has 15 effective ways that will help you prevent cyberbullying on TikTok and enjoy your time on social media.
Many victims prefer to report the bullying to platform moderators or share their experience with friends and family for emotional support. Some also use privacy settings to limit who can contact them without fully blocking.
Anonymity and easy access to large audiences encourage bullies, while algorithms can sometimes amplify negative content. The high smartphone usage among teens also increases exposure to such harmful behaviors.
Use TikTok’s privacy settings to control who can comment or message you, regularly block on TikTok and report abusive users, and avoid sharing sensitive personal information publicly.
It can be challenging due to anonymity and fake accounts, but platforms can sometimes trace users through IP addresses and account data if reports are investigated by authorities.
Inez Nevaeh
Inez Nevaeh is an author with a passion for social media growth. She specializes in creating engaging content and expert guides for social media success. Skilled in translating complex algorithms into actionable strategies, building striking online presences, and empowering creators to thrive. Inspired by a mission to make social growth accessible and easy.
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