TikTok has launched a new feature aimed at helping teens curb late-night scrolling, but it might benefit everyone.
In an announcement this week, TikTok says it’s launching several “well-being features” to help younger users build healthy digital habits. Among them is a new in-app meditation feature to help teens wind down if they use TikTok after 10 p.m.
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Here’s how it works.
A new feature called “Meditation in Sleep Hours” is rolling out to all users. For users under 18, it will be turned on by default, while adult users will need to opt in. If a user is scrolling past 10 p.m., their feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise — think calming music and breathing exercises. If the scrolling continues, TikTok shows a “second, harder to dismiss” full-screen prompt.
The company says that in early testing, 98% of teens kept the feature turned on. That doesn’t mean the teens used the meditation aspect, but it didn’t seem to be bothersome enough to turn it off. Meditation exercises have been shown to improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and put you in a better mood.
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You can turn this feature on or off by heading to the settings menu in your TikTok app and looking for “Screen Time.”
Better parental control
TikTok has parental controls like time limits already in place, but it’s adding more.
Starting today, parents can block teens from using the app during certain hours. They can set a recurring schedule or remove access in the moment if a break is needed. Teens can request more time through the app, but it’s up to the parents to decide.
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Parents can also now see what accounts their teen is following, who follows them, and what accounts the teen has blocked.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
