Digital Well-Being Conversations On TikTok

March 13, 2023 Off By Rowena Cletus

TikTok is introducing new features for teens, families, and its broader community. The platform aims to create digital experiences that bring joy and play a positive role in how people express themselves, discover ideas, and connect.

One of the most significant updates is the improvement of TikTok’s screen time tool with more custom options. This feature will allow users to set their own screen time limits, reminding them to be more conscious about their daily usage. For teen accounts, new default settings will be introduced, promoting a safer online environment for younger users.

To expand its parental controls, TikTok is also enhancing its Family Pairing feature. Parents can now have more control over their child’s account, setting limitations on screen time, direct messaging, and content viewing. This update will give parents peace of mind, knowing that their children are safe while enjoying the app.

Family pairing features include the following;

Custom daily screen time limit: Families will have more options to choose the daily screen time limit for their teens with Family Pairing – even choosing different limits based on the day of the week – so that screen time can be matched to school schedules, holiday breaks, or family travels.

Screen time dashboard: TikTok found that screen time is one of the topics parents most frequently discuss with their teens. Hence, TikTok is looking to support caregivers with relevant information to help them guide their teens.

Mute notifications: TikTok is introducing a new setting that enables parents to set a schedule to mute notifications for their teens. Accounts aged 13-15 already do not receive push notifications from 9pm and accounts aged 16-17 have push notifications disabled from 10pm.

TikTok’s new features also include encouraging teens to limit their daily screen time. If a user opts out of the 60-minute default, TikTok will prompt them to set a daily screen time limit. Users who spend more than 100 minutes on TikTok in a day will also receive a weekly inbox notification with a recap of their screen time.

Overall, these new features demonstrate TikTok’s commitment to fostering a safe and positive online community. The platform’s efforts to promote responsible digital usage will undoubtedly have a positive impact on its users. By introducing more parental controls and custom options, TikTok is encouraging a healthier and safer online environment for everyone.