TikTok launches brand new feature that's been made just for teenagers
TikTok is launching a brand new feature that has been designed to help teenage users wind down before bed and move away from the app's feed.
The new Wind Down tool will automatically turn on if a TikTok user under 16 is on the app after 10pm, interrupting the For You feed with a full-screen takeover and playing calming music.
TikTok said that in the coming weeks, additional meditation exercises will also be tested as part of the feature.
It is believed to be the first time a social media platform has pushed mindfulness tools directly to users, and comes as part of a wider update from TikTok.
The new feature will also have parental control tools including the 'Time Away' option that will allow parents to block teenagers from TikTok during specific times, such as family meals, school, at night or during a holiday.
Until now, TikTok and other social media platforms enabled parents to set screen time allowances in hours and overnight, but not specific schedules during the day.
Val Richey, TikTok's global head of outreach and partnerships, trust and safety, said the platform wanted to offer 'ongoing support' to teenage wellbeing.
'That means exploring new ways to help guide teens in developing healthy digital habits,' he told the PA news agency.
'It can't just be about block and prevent. It has to be about education and development.
'The idea is based on some research that we've reviewed around meditation being helpful in improving sleep quality, and certainly, I think there's a lot of people who that will resonate with.
'We really want to push the envelope a little bit and try being creative – it's not something that we've seen before.'
The update is part of TikTok's Family Pairing tools which enable parents to link their own accounts with those of their children and monitor their usage.
It will also add increased visibility for parents into their child's TikTok network, giving them the ability to see who follows them and who their child has blocked.
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Mr Richey said the Family Pairing tools aim to strike the right balance between allowing teenagers their independence and enabling parents to monitor them.
'This is exactly the balance that we're always trying to strike between giving teens some agency and some privacy, but also helping make sure that parents have enough visibility into what their teens are doing, and providing an environment where important conversations can happen,' he told PA.
'We want to be collaborative in how teens develop healthy digital habits and also interact with their parents.'
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