Short-form video platform TikTok has introduced four new features to help parents manage their teens’ app use and encourage young users to develop healthier digital habits. The updates, which expand TikTok’s Family Pairing feature, allow caregivers to set screen time limits, view follower lists, receive alerts on reported content, and promote digital well-being.
Since launching Family Pairing years ago, TikTok has continuously updated its parental controls based on feedback from families and experts. The latest additions include the Time Away feature, which enables parents to schedule specific times when their teens cannot access the app, such as during school hours or family time. If circumstances change, teens can request extra time, but parents have the final say.
Another update is Visibility on Followers, which allows parents to see who their teen follows, who follows them, and any blocked accounts. This feature aims to help parents engage in conversations about online interactions and guide their teens in developing digital literacy skills.
The third feature, Report Alerts, gives teens the option to notify a parent or guardian when they report a video they believe violates TikTok’s guidelines. This feature will be available in the coming months and is intended to foster more awareness among caregivers regarding the content their teens engage with.
Meditation
With these additions, TikTok now offers more than 15 settings for parental supervision, including the ability to restore the STEM Feed, a dedicated section featuring content on science, technology, engineering, and math. Available in more than 100 countries, this feed reaches millions of teens weekly. Parents can also set daily screen time limits, requiring a passcode for additional access, and switch their teen’s account back to private if they had previously changed it to public.
To further support digital well-being, TikTok is introducing the Wind Down feature to encourage healthier nighttime habits. If a teen under 16 is on TikTok after 10 p.m., their For You feed will be interrupted by a full-screen reminder with calming music. If they continue using the app, a second, harder-to-dismiss prompt will appear. TikTok is also testing the addition of meditation exercises in these reminders, based on research suggesting mindfulness can improve sleep.
TikTok said these updates align with behavioral change principles and are designed to help teens develop better screen time habits.
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