TikTok, the Content Forum, and MCMC have teamed up for World Children’s Day to launch the #ThinkTwice Parental Advisory, a practical guide designed to help parents stay involved in their teens’ digital lives. The initiative offers tools, safety settings, and informed strategies to support healthier, more secure online experiences.
Kuala Lumpur, November 20, 2025 – In commemoration of World Children’s Day, TikTok partnered with the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (Content Forum) and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to launch the #ThinkTwice Parental Advisory.
- The joint advisory, part of TikTok’s ongoing #ThinkTwice digital literacy initiative, called for a community-wide and evidence-based approach to online safety.
- It underscored the need for proportional collective responsibility of parents, platforms, and policymakers, while also respecting the internationally recognized rights of children to access information, express views, protect privacy, and have freedom of thought.
Firdaus Fadzil, Malaysia Head of Public Policy, TikTok, emphasised: “Most of the challenges faced by youths today are not new.”
- Issues such as bullying, peer pressure, mental health struggles, and harmful habits predate even the internet.
- Parents and guardians are the primary source of guidance for youths, because they are the closest to their children and know their needs best.
The #ThinkTwice Parental Advisory aims to help parents play an active role in safeguarding their teens’ digital experiences by utilizing TikTok’s robust safety measures.
Mediha Mahmood, CEO of Content Forum, echoed the sentiment.
- Online safety is not about disproportionately removing teens’ access from digital spaces.
- Culture comes from communities and good habits start from home, so it is clear that digital wellbeing among youths cannot be achieved in isolation.
- Instead, it is imperative that we empower parents to nurture creativity alongside caution by encouraging healthy routines and facilitating meaningful discussions with their teens.
MCMC welcomed TikTok’s proactive step in launching the #ThinkTwice Parental Advisory, which complements MCMC’s Kempen Internet Selamat and supports Malaysia’s ongoing commitment to a safer and more responsible digital ecosystem.
The #ThinkTwice Parental Advisory highlights three key practical tips on digital youth wellbeing:
Supervise Your Teens’ Digital Activities
- With the Family Pairing feature on the TikTok app, parents can link with their teens’ accounts for greater visibility on their account activities.
- Once linked, parents will be notified when their teens upload a public video, story, or photo on TikTok.
- It also allows parents to monitor their teens’ app usage patterns on TikTok with the Screen Time Dashboard.
- TikTok’s Safety By Design principles ensure that users under 16 have private accounts with limited features, while those under 13 are not permitted to create an account.
Parents are encouraged to regularly review their teens’ account information and settings to help ensure an age-appropriate and positive experience on TikTok.
Customize Settings Based on Your Teens’ Digital Journey
- Parents can set their teen’s screen time limit on the linked account directly on Family Pairing, including scheduling time-away periods when TikTok will be unavailable, as well as muting notifications.
- Additionally, parents also decide whether their teens’ account is private or public, along with determining who can send direct messages or message requests to their teens.
- Through TikTok’s Manage Topics feature, users can take control and customise how often content related to over 10 popular topics is recommended in their For You Feed (FYF) based on their own preferences, including creative arts, travel, nature, sports, and more.
- These content preferences will be visible to the parent’s linked account via the Family Pairing feature.
By combining over 50 features and settings on teens’ TikTok accounts, along with Family Pairing and active guidance, parents can empower their teens to safely discover, create, and connect online within a controlled and secure digital environment.
Have Open Conversations About Digital Literacy
- It is essential to hear directly from teens about any emerging trends, risks, or uncomfortable experiences they encounter online.
- Parents can use insights from Family Pairing to guide discussions about sensitive topics, while helping their teens understand safe interactions and how to use tools such as blocking or reporting.
- Regular conversations allow parents to adapt as their teen’s digital journey evolves, including staying aware of emerging risks and new forms of circumvention.
- With TikTok’s #ThinkTwice knowledge hub, parents and teens are further equipped with accessible resources to strengthen digital literacy and discernment, covering areas like scam prevention and mental health awareness.
| This is a press statement issued by TikTok. It has been edited for clarity. |
