TikTok has rolled out several exciting new features today aimed at teenagers and parents to help cultivate “balanced digital habits.” Here’s what you need to know.
For Parents of TikTok Teens
A significant portion of today’s feature update involves providing parents with new tools for overseeing their teen’s TikTok usage.
In this spirit, two new features are being introduced:
- Time Away: “We’re improving Family Pairing by enabling parents to restrict their teens’ access to TikTok during specific times they set… caregivers can utilize our new Time Away function to designate when it’s best for their teens to step away. Parents have the option to establish a recurring schedule that aligns with their family’s routine. Should plans change, teens have the ability to request additional time, but the final decision rests with the parents.”
- Following Transparency: “We’re adding a feature under Family Pairing that will allow parents to view who their teen follows on TikTok, who follows them, as well as any accounts their teen has blocked.”
These enhancements add to approximately 15 existing features that assist parents and guardians in managing their teens’ TikTok experiences.
For Teens: Wind Down and Reporting
The updates released today are not solely for parents. TikTok is also introducing new features specifically for teens, aimed at fostering healthier digital habits.
Two new additions for teens include:
- Wind Down: If a teen under 16 is active on TikTok after 10 PM, their For You feed will receive an interruption from our new wind down feature. Initially, this will manifest as a full-screen takeover featuring soothing music to help teens unwind and become conscious of their time. If a teen opts to continue using TikTok after the first alert, they will encounter a second, more challenging full-screen prompt.
- Reporting: In light of parents wanting to be more informed about the content their teens interact with on the app, we are introducing a feature where, in the coming months, when a teen reports a video they deem to be against TikTok’s guidelines, they can simultaneously notify a parent, caregiver, or another trusted adult, even if they are not using Family Pairing.
In regard to the wind down feature, TikTok states: “In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be testing the integration of meditation exercises into the wind down reminder, as studies suggest that mindfulness exercises can lead to improved sleep quality.”
DMN’s Perspective
It’s encouraging to see TikTok providing both parents and teens with more resources to interact in healthier ways, both with the app and with one another. While Apple has system-wide offerings like Screen Time, more tools for managing social media usage, especially for addictive apps like TikTok, can only be beneficial.
What are your thoughts on TikTok’s latest features for teens and parents? We welcome your feedback in the comments below.
