Emmanuel OchayiTikTok has launched new features to help parents monitor their teens’ activity on the platform. These updates aim to give parents more control over screen time, interactions, and content exposure. With concerns growing about social media’s impact on young users, TikTok’s latest changes offer more ways for parents to ensure their children’s online safety.
Setting Screen-Free Times on TikTok
One of the major updates is the Time Away feature, which allows parents to block access to TikTok during specific hours. This helps manage screen time during school, family meals, or bedtime.
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Parents can also set a recurring schedule to limit their teen’s daily screen time. If a teen wants extra time, parents must approve the request. This feature ensures that social media use does not interfere with important activities.
Monitoring Teen Interactions on TikTok
TikTok now allows parents to see who their teen follows, who follows them, and which accounts they have blocked. This helps parents understand their child’s digital social circle.
Additionally, when a teen reports content they find inappropriate, they can choose to notify a trusted adult. This ensures that parents stay informed about potential risks their child may encounter on the app.
Managing Privacy and STEM Feed
TikTok has introduced more privacy control options. If a teen switches their account to public, parents can revert it to private. This feature ensures that teens do not unknowingly expose their profiles to strangers.
Parents can also control access to TikTok’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) feed. If a teen turns this off, parents have the option to reactivate it. This ensures that young users continue to access educational content on the platform.
Encouraging Healthier Screen Habits
To help reduce excessive screen time at night, TikTok is rolling out a wind-down mode for users under 16. If a teen remains active after 10 pm, TikTok interrupts their feed with a full-screen message and calming music, urging them to log off.
If they ignore the first warning, a second, stronger prompt appears. TikTok is also testing in-app meditation exercises to improve sleep habits. These efforts aim to promote better digital well-being among teenagers.
TikTok’s Ongoing Safety Efforts
TikTok is working on new age verification measures to prevent children under 13 from accessing the platform. The company is partnering with Telefónica to explore mobile-based age confirmation.
Additionally, TikTok is supporting the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, a global initiative focused on improving online child safety. These efforts highlight TikTok’s commitment to protecting young users.
Strengthening Parent-Teen Digital Conversations
TikTok has launched a Digital Safety Partnership for Families to help parents set digital boundaries. This initiative provides guidance on fostering open conversations about online experiences beyond TikTok.
Stephen Balkam, CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, praised these changes “TikTok’s latest parental controls give families the tools they need to both protect their children and empower them as responsible digital citizens.”
With these new updates, TikTok is making it easier for parents to monitor their teen’s activity and promote healthier screen habits. From setting screen-free times to improving privacy settings, these features give families greater control over their child’s online experience. Parents are encouraged to explore these tools and have ongoing discussions with their teens about safe social media use.
Emmanuel Ochayi is a journalist. He is a graduate of the University of Lagos, School of first choice and the nations pride. Emmanuel is keen on exploring writing angles in different areas, including Business, climate change, politics, Education, and others.
