How TikTok — yes, TikTok — can help parents

DALLAS – TikTok is booming.

It has been at the top of the download lists in the app store for several months. Its US user base is estimated to be over 100 million and growing.

Digital parents are right to worry about the web. There has been a lot of news about the dangers of TikTok viral calls or political concerns about the app’s data collection habits. But it is also home to powerful communities of people united by common interests.

And especially useful for parents is… well… education.

Countless certified family therapists and parenting mentors have found a home on the app, using it to share their advice with people they might otherwise never meet, many of whom are far beyond their traditional reach.

Rachel Rogers is one of them.

A certified parenting coach herself, she has amassed over a million followers for her account: @TheConsiderateMomma.

“My goal is to focus on parents and help them create a secure attachment so they can show understanding, love, support and compassion,” Rogers told WFAA.

Rogers’ content aims to help parents rethink their approach, complete with countless examples of techniques parents can use to defuse conflict, set boundaries, and bond with their children.

Same with Sean Donoghue. He worked in the industry for over a decade before creating his TikTok videos under the alias @the.family.coach.

“The biggest surprise for me was the response, and not only in the number of subscribers, but also in the comments,” Donoghue said. “Parents will write to me and tell me that they really are the best version of themselves. You show me another way. It’s really cool and especially to be a part of something like this.”

These creators are active on other social networks as well. But they say the TikTok algorithm is uniquely successful for their content. Likes, comments, and posts from parents, in particular, boost their content, creating an almost endless cycle of similar content.

But fair warning: not all creators are created equal.

While many of them are licensed professionals or have extensive experience in the field, many do not. So it’s worth taking the time and effort to check the creator’s bio or visit their website to confirm their experience. For legitimate experts, they often see TikTok as a tool they can use to spread good parenting advice and expand their reach.

“It’s really just a platform for me to help people, help them grow in raising children,” Donoghue said. “And it’s a useful tool in my business.”

“I would never have been able to connect with so many people just in person,” Rogers said. “So I love that it expanded my reach not only in my country but also internationally and allowed me to educate and empower parents all over the world.

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