Patchwork Governance on KidTok: Balancing Regulation and Community Norms

TikTok’s rapid growth among young users has introduced unique challenges to existing frameworks for understanding child internet fame. We identify “KidTok” as a unique networked public for “internet famous” young people on TikTok shaped by the platform’s sociotechnical environment and explore the novel risks that governance should address. While concerns about privacy, safety, and exploitation persist across platforms, TikTok’s algorithm-driven exposure and engagement features, such as “duets” and “stitches,” have created a distinctive environment that shapes “KidTok.” This study examines the novel risks associated with child fame on TikTok and evaluates the governance mechanisms addressing these risks. Using a triangulated methodology, we conduct a policy analysis of legal and platform regulations alongside two ethnographic case studies to explore how community-driven processes like lateral surveillance and peer policing complement formal governance efforts. Framing our analysis within Merton’s sociology of deviance, we argue that KidTok operates under a patchwork governance model where legal, platform, and community mechanisms interact to navigate acceptable practices for children. These findings highlight the limitations of traditional regulatory frameworks and emphasize the critical role of community norms. Our study offers a framework for researchers and policymakers to better understand and address the governance needs of child internet fame.