If your tween or teen has mentioned “musical.ly,” you might be wondering what it is — or you might remember it from a few years back and be surprised it’s come up again. Here’s the short version: musical.ly was a hugely popular app for creating and sharing short lip-sync and music videos, and in 2018 it merged with TikTok. The musical.ly app itself no longer exists as a separate download, but the features that made it popular — short videos, lip-syncing, effects, hashtags, and a big social following system — all live on inside TikTok.
This guide keeps the original information about how musical.ly worked and what parents needed to watch out for, because the same concerns apply almost word for word to TikTok today. If your child is using TikTok, the tips below are still worth reading.
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What was the Musical.ly app?
Musical.ly was a video community app that let users create, share and discover short music videos, mostly lip-sync clips set to popular songs. It was available on both iPhone and Android and worked much like a social network — users could follow each other, like videos, and send messages.
In 2018, musical.ly merged with TikTok, and all musical.ly accounts and content moved across to the TikTok platform. So today, when people talk about “musical.ly,” they’re really describing an earlier version of what TikTok does now.
How it worked
Users downloaded the app and created an account, signing in with Facebook, Twitter, or an email address.
- You’d find a track (or use music from your own device) to create a lip-sync video, then add effects and share it.
- A search function let the community discover and like videos, and users could try to rank on a leaderboard.
- Users could upload their own content freely.
- Hashtags helped categorise videos, with certain explicit words blocked from search — though this didn’t catch everything.
What parents needed to be aware of
While the app looked innocent and fun on the surface, there were no real age controls, and a few things were worth knowing:
- The app carried a 12+ age rating on the App Store, reflecting occasional mild references to violence, mature themes, substance use, sexual content and crude language.
- Songs weren’t age-rated, so children could easily be singing along to inappropriate lyrics without realising it.
- The search function meant children could stumble across adult-oriented videos posted by other users.
- Hashtag searches sometimes surfaced more adult content than intended, even with some words blocked.
- If an account wasn’t set to private, strangers could send direct messages.
- In-app purchases were available, so costs could add up without a parent noticing.
These same risks — inappropriate content surfacing through search or hashtags, unrated music, messaging from strangers, and in-app spending — apply just as much to TikTok today, so it’s worth keeping them in mind if your child has moved across to that app.
Tips for parents
#1. Make sure the account is private
Check the settings and make sure options like restricting who can message you, hiding location information, and setting the account to private are all switched on. TikTok has its own version of these settings, so it’s worth checking them there too.
#2. Try it yourself
Download the app your child is using and ask them to show you the basics. Seeing how it works first-hand is one of the best ways to understand what your child is actually doing on it.
#3. Keep an eye on what they do
Where possible, encourage your child to use the app when you’re nearby, so you can casually keep an eye on what they’re watching and posting.
#4. Check in-app purchases are switched off
Go into your device settings and make sure in-app purchases are disabled if you don’t want to risk an unexpected bill.
#5. Have another conversation about online safety
Remind your child to only accept friend requests from people they genuinely know, and to tell you straight away if they come across anything that makes them uncomfortable.
Whether it’s musical.ly, TikTok, or whatever comes next, the balance for parents stays the same — letting kids enjoy something fun and creative, while staying alert to what they might be exposed to along the way.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Musical.ly app still available?
No. Musical.ly merged with TikTok in 2018, and all accounts and videos transferred over. There’s no separate musical.ly app to download anymore.
Is TikTok the same as Musical.ly?
TikTok absorbed musical.ly’s core features — short videos, lip-syncing, effects and hashtags — and built on them with a much bigger platform and audience. If your child enjoyed musical.ly, TikTok will feel very familiar.
What age is TikTok suitable for?
Age suitability depends on content settings, supervision, and your own family’s comfort level. It’s worth checking TikTok’s current age rating and parental control options directly, as these can change.
Do the safety tips for Musical.ly still apply to TikTok?
Yes, largely. Privacy settings, being cautious about messages from strangers, checking in-app purchase settings, and talking openly with your child about what they see are all just as relevant on TikTok.
Related articles
- A Parent’s Guide to TikTok
- Keeping Your Child Safe on Social Media
- How to Talk to Your Tween About Online Safety
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