TikTok and National PTA Partner to Promote Online Safety and Digital Well-being for Families
TikTok is enhancing its commitment to a safer digital world through an expanded collaboration with the National PTA. Together, they aim to support families and teens in navigating online spaces responsibly and fostering positive digital interactions. This initiative builds on TikTok’s previous efforts, including its partnership with the Family Online Safety Institute, to provide tailored resources for online safety.
Empowering Schools with the Create with Kindness Program
As a proud sponsor of PTA Connected, TikTok is backing the Create with Kindness initiative, which focuses on digital literacy, equity, and safety. For the current school year, TikTok is funding over $300,000 to 100 Parent Teacher Student Associations (PTSAs) across the U.S. to implement this program. The initiative fosters open discussions between teens and parents about online civility, content creation, and building healthy digital boundaries.
Key elements of the Create with Kindness program include:
- Interactive activities for families to navigate online safety scenarios.
- Panel discussions where teens share their online experiences and insights.
- Workshops on TikTok’s safety tools, such as Family Pairing, to customize settings for privacy and content control.
The program also eliminates barriers for schools by providing resources for translation services, childcare, and inclusive community events. Schools nationwide can access a free Create with Kindness toolkit via the National PTA website, featuring comprehensive planning and promotional guides.
Yvonne Johnson, President of National PTA, highlighted the importance of the initiative, stating:
“Families navigating digital platforms need support in fostering open, honest conversations about online safety. TikTok’s commitment to this cause empowers communities to create safer, kinder digital spaces for teens.”
Live Events to Foster Digital Civility
This year, TikTok and National PTA are hosting Create with Kindness events in five high schools across the U.S., featuring breakout discussions, student-led panels, and insights into TikTok’s safety features. These gatherings, complete with dinners and giveaways, bring families and educators together to discuss online experiences and expectations.
Suzy Loftus, TikTok’s Head of Trust and Safety, remarked:
“Listening to teens and families is crucial for building a safe platform. Through this collaboration, we’re equipping families with the tools to set digital boundaries and fostering ongoing conversations about online safety.”
Updated TikTok Guide for Parents
Complementing this initiative, TikTok has released an updated Guide for Parents. The guide provides a detailed overview of tools like Family Pairing, which lets caregivers customize content and privacy settings. It also highlights TikTok’s age-appropriate features designed to safeguard younger users.
Through these efforts, TikTok and National PTA aim to create a digital environment rooted in kindness, respect, and understanding, empowering families to navigate the online world safely and positively.
Published by: https://newsroom.tiktok.com/