TikTok collaboration with National PTA provides new online safety for teens and families

At TikTok, we are committed to building a safer digital world and helping families engage in meaningful conversations about online safety. We’re sharing an update on our deepening collaboration with National PTA to further empower parents and communities to help teens navigate the digital world safely and encourage positive online behavior. This collaboration builds upon our recent partnership with the Family Online Safety Institute to launch the Digital Safety Partnership for Families, a resource to help families make online safety choices tailored to their needs.

Equipping schools with the Create with Kindness program

As a longtime PTA Connected sponsor, we’re proud to support National PTA’s initiative focused on digital safety and well-being, access and equity, and digital literacy. For this school year, TikTok is making it possible for National PTA to award over $300,000 in funding to 100 local and regional PTSAs at high school campuses across America to help them implement Create with Kindness - an interactive program aimed at facilitating conversations between teens and their families about online safety and civility, and how to create positive digital boundaries together.

We’ve heard from parents that it can feel daunting for families to have these important conversations. This is why we’re working with National PTA to create a supportive environment for teens to share their online experiences and equip parents with practical tools and resources to take a more active role in these discussions. The Create with Kindness program offers:

• Breakout conversations between teens and their parents about the type of content and creators they enjoy across platforms and communities
• Panel discussions with teens sharing first-hand the type of support they need from the trusted adults in their lives
• Interactive role-playing that challenges teens and parents to think about how they may navigate real-world challenges
• A deep-dive into TikTok’s safety tools and resources that can help families safeguard their experience on our platform

The funding can help remove barriers for PTSAs, such as translation services, childcare, or meals, to host welcoming and inclusive community events. However, any school can access and implement the Create with Kindness program toolkit for free from National PTA’s website. The comprehensive toolkit includes a planning guide to help consider various logistics, a facilitator’s guide and presentation, and promotional materials to help get the word out to the local community.

“National PTA believes in a positive, proactive, and practical approach to parenting in the digital age and that if a family is going to allow their teen to be on a particular app or platform, like TikTok, then it’s crucial for everyone in the household to know how to safely navigate that platform,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “We are grateful for TikTok’s support in bringing the Create with Kindness program to high school campuses across the country to empower teens and families to engage in open, honest conversations about online safety and responsible digital behavior and create spaces where teens feel heard and families can connect.”

Facilitating conversations about online civility and safety IRL

Additionally, this school year, National PTA and TikTok, along with the applicable state PTA and local PTSA, will co-host five Create with Kindness marquee events with PTSA high school students, their parents and caregivers, and faculty. These events will explore their experiences and expectations when navigating the online world and deepen their knowledge of TikTok’s safety features. These events will feature student panels, breakout conversations with students and parents, as well as dinner, giveaways, and remarks from TikTok, National PTA, and school leaders.

[i"Listening to the experiences of teens and parents is a critical step in building a safe platform for families, and our work with National PTA allows us to do exactly that" [/i]said Suzy Loftus, Head of Trust and Safety at TikTok USDS. "By supporting the Create with Kindness program, teens and parents will take away tangible tips for creating safe digital boundaries, learn more about TikTok’s safety features like Family Pairing, and create a solid foundation for parents and teens to keep talking about how to stay safe online"

Updating our TikTok Guide for Parents

To complement the Create with Kindness program and events, TikTok is releasing an updated TikTok Guide for Parents, which provides an overview of TikTok’s tools intended to help families create a safe and enjoyable experience tailored to their individual needs. This guide, which was produced in consultation with National PTA, explains TikTok’s parenting tools called Family Pairing, where caregivers can customize various content and privacy settings for their teens. It also gives an overview of TikTok’s age-appropriate settings that are turned on automatically for younger and older teens.

At TikTok, we understand that the digital landscape offers incredible opportunities for learning, connection, and creativity—but it also requires awareness and responsibility. That’s why our collaboration with National PTA focuses on meeting families where they are, both online and in their local communities, to provide the tools, support, and resources needed to navigate the online world safely and positively. Through this work, together, we aim to help families build digital spaces rooted in kindness, respect, and understanding.