At TikTok, we’re dedicated to creating a safe and positive space for young people online and we know that building healthy digital habits is important to families across the UK. Through our latest research and continued work with teens and caregivers, we’re expanding our tools that help support open conversations within families on online safety and wellbeing.

A new tool for open conversations

Today we’re launching the Digital Safety Partnership for Families, a new, customisable resource designed to empower British families in building safe online habits that suit their unique needs. Developed in partnership with Internet Matters, a leading UK NGO helping parents navigate child internet safety, this tool is available for download in our Safety Centre and invites families to begin meaningful conversations around online experiences and establish positive digital boundaries.

Adaptable across all online spaces—not specific to any one app or platform—the template allows parents and teens to openly discuss key topics, such as:

  • The importance of regular conversations, not just in response to issues
  • Setting expectations for responsible device use
  • Reviewing app rules, safety features, and parental tools together

Research-backed support for families Our latest survey of 1,000 UK parents of teens aged 13-18, highlights that 61% feel more prepared than five years ago to discuss online safety. However, 46% still feel out of touch, and the same percentage is concerned they may lack the knowledge to offer effective advice. Encouragingly, 57% expressed a strong desire to learn more about the digital world from their teens.

This insight underscores the importance of accessible tools like the Digital Safety Partnership for Families, which helps families bridge generational gaps in digital knowledge and feel more equipped to make the choices that are right for their families.

Nigel Clarke: Showcasing the Partnership in action

The Digital Safety Partnership for Families template aims to be an easy-to-use tool that guides families in fostering open dialogue and shared understanding of online safety.

To demonstrate how this guide can be used in action, we teamed up with Nigel Clarke, TV Presenter, parent and creator. By connecting with his hundreds of thousands of followers on TikTok, Nigel will share practical tips to help parents introduce the Partnership to their teens and start safe, empowering conversations about online safety and wellbeing.

"As a parent, I know first hand how difficult it can be to have conversations about online safety. The Digital Safety Partnership for Families is a fantastic tool that will encourage open discussions about digital wellbeing, educating parents and teens together," said Nigel Clarke.

"I’ll be able to share my own journey of using the Partnership with my community, showing that creating healthy boundaries online can be easy and empowering."

@nigelclarketv 🧑‍💻💬 "Hey, parents! Last time, you sent in some great questions on online safety, so today I’m sharing answers to mark TikTok’s new Digital Safety Partnership for Families! 📱💙 🔹 Starting the convo: Instead of going straight into screen time limits, try asking your teen what they’re watching or playing. It opens a discussion without feeling like a lecture. 🎮 🔹 Setting limits without conflict: Involve your teen! TikTok’s tools let you view time spent and agree on a limit together. It’s about collaboration, not control. 💪 🔹 TikTok’s Parent Controls: Family Pairing lets you link your accounts to set limits, mute notifications, and filter content. Super simple, and keeps everyone on the same page. 🛠️ Remember, it’s okay not to be an expert! Let’s keep these conversations open and use the tools to make social media safer for our teens. Drop your questions below or DM me—I’ll cover more in a video soon! 🙌💬 #OnlineSafety #DigitalParenting #FamilyPartnership #TikTokTips#Adoteumhabitinho ♬ vlog, chill out, calm daily life(1370843) - SUNNY HOOD STUDIO


Supporting parents and teens on TikTok

Alongside the Digital Safety Partnership for Families, we offer robust tools and settings that help safeguard teens and empower caregivers, such as:

  • Family Pairing: Allowing parents to connect their account with their teens' account for a greater level of oversight and customisation, such as managing who can interact with their content.
  • Default age-appropriate settings for teen accounts: Including a 60-minute screen time default for teens under 18 and no access to direct messaging for those under 16 by default.
  • Keyword filtering: Parents can filter out videos with words or hashtags they'd prefer to avoid seeing in their For You or Following feeds. This feature is also available for everyone on TikTok

"This Digital Safety Partnership for Families empowers parents and caregivers to have well-informed conversations with teens about digital wellbeing, alongside our existing Family Pairing tools which enable greater account oversight and customisation based on individual needs. Partnering with Internet Matters on this project aligns with our goal to ensure families can navigate digital spaces with confidence and understanding." said Valiant Richey, Global Head of Outreach and Partnerships - Trust & Safety at TikTok.

"At Internet Matters we believe that equipping families with the right resources is essential for building a safe and supportive digital environment, which is why we welcome the launch of the Digital Safety Partnership for Families. This tool empowers parents and teens to engage in open conversations about topics such as responsible device use and app safety features, which will hopefully reinforce positive digital habits” added Ghislaine Bombusa, Content and Digital Director at Internet Matters.


To download the new Digital Safety Partnership, please click here.