From harmless skits to thirst traps with Kanye West’s “Carnival,” social media sites like TikTok have a wide variety of content. Even today, scrolling through the app will reveal multiple different trends, some more age-appropriate than others. If you’re unlucky, you may even stumble upon a 10-year-old posting her $500 skincare routine! 

Yet more often than not, the comments are the problem, especially with younger content creators or parents who post content of their young children. A recent example of this is with preschooler Wren, whose mother has amassed over 17 million followers on TikTok by posting videos of Wren dancing, eating and acting like the toddler she is. However, the comments are what is concerning — people on the app sexualize Wren’s behavior, creating innuendos about her innocent actions. Furthermore, while Wren’s mother refuses to delete or address these comments, she deletes the comments calling her out for continuing to post Wren despite the creepy messages. Wren is one example of many users who are sexualized on the platform and the behavior of her audience demonstrates the dangers of posting on social media, particularly on apps like TikTok where nearly anyone can view your profile. 

@chloeann144 This mother is not innocent and the fact she put this online for millions of people to see is worse. #stopexploitingkids #spreadawareness #savewren #greenscreenvideo ♬ original sound – Chloe

While it is unfortunate that strangers choose to be creepy and invasive when viewing videos on TikTok, their actions serve as an important reminder for people who post on the app: don’t post anything on TikTok that is overly sexualized, especially sexual dances or thirst traps. Yes, creeps are the problem. However, social media platforms do not have the manpower to ban every person who posts inappropriate comments, let alone ban users with suggestive thoughts. Thus, by taking the initiative to monitor what you post and who can view your content — for example, you can make your account or the video private so that only your mutuals can view it — you prevent yourself from falling victim to the thoughts and comments of strangers on the internet. While it may seem scary to avoid partaking in certain trends and fitting in with those around you, this is ultimately the best way to protect yourself online. 

Memes on TikTok and other social media platforms like Instagram have also normalized dark humor, or jokes made in bad taste and about sensitive subjects. While these jokes may seem funny, the fact remains that they are insulting to others, and posting them on the internet memorializes this insensitivity — these jokes become attached to your name the second you click the “post” button they become a part of your digital footprint. Hence, even if you delete the post a few weeks later, that very comment can come back years later to haunt you, possibly preventing you from getting job opportunities or into college if the joke goes too far. The easiest way to prevent yourself from developing a bad digital footprint is to not post insensitive jokes or even text them to your friends — anything communicated on a digital platform contributes to your digital footprint, hence the safest route is to never post or voice problematic concepts online, even as a joke.

While it may appear that your social media followers are your friends, you are not close friends with all 1,000 people following your Instagram, nor are you on a first-name basis with the people who view your TikToks on their For You Page. Thus, making responsible decisions and creating a barrier between yourself and social media is important, both regarding what you post and the audience you allow to view your account. Especially as a minor, having a private account or not posting can help protect you from strangers lurking on the internet. Growing up in the digital age allows us to interact with a diverse range of people, but taking precautions is the key to keeping this power. Thus, being responsible in our posting habits will ensure that social media remains beneficial rather than detrimental for us and the generations to come.