TikTok To Disable Direct Messages for Users Under 16, Introduces Family Pairing for Better Parental Controls

TikTok’s Family Pairing feature will allow parents to control how much time their children spend on the app.

Advertisement
By Vineet Washington | Updated: 16 April 2020 18:06 IST
Highlights
  • TikTok is adding a new Family Pairing feature
  • It allows parents to control their child’s time on the app
  • TikTok is also disabling Direct Message for users under the age of 16

TikTok is available for free on the Play Store and App Store

TikTok is among the most used social media apps. It allows its users to create and share short videos. In these times, when people are staying home to avoid the spread of coronavirus, sharing videos and messages online has become a more prominent mode of communication. But this also means that kids, especially teens, may be spending too much time on the app. To rectify this, TikTok is introducing a feature called Family Pairing that will give parents additional control over their children's usage of the app, including direct messages. Additionally, TikTok will be disabling Direct Messages for users under the age of 16.

According to a blog post by TikTok, the new Family Pairing feature will give parents greater control over how much time their children spend on the app and who they message, among other restrictions.

Advertisement

With this feature, parents will be able to link their TikTok account to their child's account and set restrictions on direct messages. Additionally, Family Pairing will also allow parents to set controls on the time their kids spend on the app as a part of Screen Time Management. Another part to this feature is Restricted Mode. It is unclear exactly what will be available as a part of this Restricted Mode.

Additionally, TikTok has announced that is going to disable Direct Messages for its younger users.

Advertisement

“While Direct Messaging can be an amazing way to make new friends and connections. User safety is paramount. Starting April 30, TikTok will be taking existing protections one step further as relates to younger members of our community, and automatically disabling Direct Messages for registered accounts under the age of 16,” TikTok said

Among messaging related features and options available on TikTok, the short video sharing app allows users to only get messages from approved users. Additionally, TikTok does not allow images or videos to be sent in messages.

Advertisement

TikTok can be downloaded for free on Android and iOS via Google Play Store and Apple App Store, respectively.


 

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. OnePlus Pad 4 to Launch in India With a 13,380mAh Battery on This Date
  2. Xiaomi 18 Pro Leak Hints at a Dedicated Button for This Feature
  3. Oppo Find X9 Ultra Will Go on Sale in These Storage Variants
  4. Realme Buds T500 Pro Debut in India With Up to 56 Hours Total Battery Life
  5. God of War Spinoff Will Reportedly Feature Tyr, Explore Several Mythologies
  6. Google Has Just Released Gemini App for Mac With These Features
  7. Oppo F33 Pro 5G vs OnePlus Nord 6 vs Nothing Phone 4a Pro: Which One Should You Pick?
  8. Motorola Hikes Prices of These Tablets in India
  1. Bitcoin Holds Steady Near $75,000 as Cryptocurrency Prices Gain Support From Institutional Demand
  2. OnePlus Pad 4 India Launch Date Announced; Key Specifications, Design Revealed
  3. Toaster Now Streaming Online: Where to Watch Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra’s Comedy Drama?
  4. Lumio Vision 9 (2026) Launched in India With 144Hz 4K Screen, Lumio Vision 7 (2026) Tags Along: Price, Features
  5. Realme Buds T500 Pro Launched in India With Up to 50dB ANC, Up to 56 Hours Total Battery Life: Price, Features
  6. Honor's Upcoming Smartphone Said to Feature a Larger 11,000mAh Battery
  7. Google Introduces Gemini App to macOS, to Rival ChatGPT and Claude
  8. Xiaomi 18 Pro Leak Hints at Dedicated AI Button, Subtle Design Changes
  9. Apple's OLED iPad Air to Launch in 2027, Samsung Display to Begin Production Soon: Report
  10. Poco C81 Pro Unexpectedly Turns Up on Xiaomi's Global Website Along With Key Specifications, Features
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.