TikTok KSA Family Academy
The TikTok Family Academy initiative launched a dedicated edition in Riyadh to help parents and teens navigate online platforms safely. The gathering brought together parents, civil society organizations, and safety advocates to discuss practical methods for building healthy digital habits. Furthermore, discussions focused on aligning digital literacy efforts with local cultural values in Saudi Arabia.
Expert Discussions on Teen Safety
The event opened with a panel discussion titled ‘Starting the Conversation: Supporting Teens in Their Digital Lives’ moderated by media professional and UN consultant Muna AbuSulayman. Panelists included Lubna Alkhudhairy from the Digital Cooperation Organization, Malak Jaafar from TikTok, and parenting coach Walaa Aitah. Together, they explored ways educators, platforms, and families can cooperate to improve digital wellbeing.
“Every family approaches technology differently, but parents share a common desire to feel confident supporting their teens as they navigate their digital lives. Family Academy is about creating space for those conversations and giving families practical tools that can help them make choices together and support safer, healthier digital experiences for teens.”
Malak Jaafar, Outreach and Partnerships Manager at TikTok
A fireside chat followed featuring content creator Léa Sfeir and host Linda Al Faisal. The mother-daughter duo demonstrated practical approaches for different generations handling online challenges together on modern social media.
Platform Tools and TikTok Family Academy Features
TikTok highlighted that teen accounts include more than 50 default safety and privacy settings. These protections feature private accounts, content filters, and an automatic 60-minute daily screen time limit. Families can also utilize tools like Family Pairing and Wind Down to manage schedule breaks and interaction settings via mobile apps.
“We’ve seen how important it is to make sure young people have a voice in conversations about their online safety and wellbeing. That starts with listening to teens, understanding the challenges they face, and giving families practical tools to make healthier, more confident choices together.”
Léa Sfeir, TikTok Safety Advisory Council Member
