Modern social platforms, such as TikTok, are an important part of life for many young people. Recent actions by the European Commission have highlighted the issue of privacy protection for minor users on these platforms. In the context of preliminary findings concerning TikTok, it becomes crucial to understand the potential consequences and how parents can support their children in safely using social media.
On 24 July 2026 the European Commission sent TikTok preliminary findings indicating that minors' accounts do not meet the safety standards required under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The issue is that minors can set their account as "public" – then anyone, including people without a TikTok account, may view their content, and content by "older" minors (16–17) can be recommended to other users through the "For You" feed (Source: European Commission, 2026).
The Commission preliminarily considers that – in line with the Guidelines on the protection of minors – TikTok should adjust the default settings of minors' "public" accounts so that their content is, by default, visible only to users the minor has accepted, and should stop recommending minors' content through the "For You" feed. These are preliminary findings, not a final decision or a fine. If the Commission ultimately finds a breach of the DSA, the fine shall in no case exceed 6% of the provider's global annual turnover.
When using social media apps like TikTok, it is important for parents and teenagers to together review the account's privacy settings. This process engages the teenager in discussion and helps them understand the importance of consciously managing their personal data in the digital space. Check together whether the account is private, who can comment and send messages, and whether videos can be recommended to others.
To be honest: MichalKids does not change TikTok settings, read conversations or see published videos – it offers features such as seeing where the child is and an SOS button. It is essential, however, that these tools are used ethically and in accordance with GDPR, with clear communication to children on how their data is used. This approach ensures compliance with the brand's slogan: 'A guardian, not a spy', which emphasises the importance of transparency and trust in the parent-child relationship.
Creating a safe digital environment requires the involvement of both platforms like TikTok and parents who support their children in responsible use of technology.