Pushing against the panic: Considering the positives of TikTok and children

This short commentary is intended to be provocative, as we argue the importance of considering ‘other’ aspects of children's everyday experiences of TikTok. We argue the need to be cautious about how the risks of TikTok, and digital platforms at large, for children are often amplified at the expense of erasing public awareness about the joy, connection, and creativity that many children and young people also experience on these emerging platforms. Through this work, we call for a shift in perspective in our research community: a shift that moves away from the assumptions (re)produced by policymakers and media, towards an approach grounded in children's everyday experiences so as to consider the implications of TikTok for children in a positive and generative manner.