Johannesburg – TikTok is rolling out upgraded parental controls and well-being tools designed to assist families in fostering healthier digital habits among teenagers.
These enhancements are part of TikTok’s continued commitment to online safety, enhancing Family Pairing by providing parents with greater oversight while encouraging responsible and thoughtful screen time for younger users.
The latest features include:
- Time Away Scheduling – Parents can set personalized screen-free time periods (such as during school hours, bedtime, or weekends). Teens can request extra screen time, but must obtain parental approval.
- Teen Network Visibility – Parents can now view whom their teen follows, who follows them, and any blocked accounts, which promotes open conversations about online behaviors.
- Proactive Reporting Alerts – In the near future, when a teen reports content that might violate TikTok’s Community Guidelines, they will have the option to notify a specific adult, even if Family Pairing is not enabled.
With these updates, Family Pairing now offers parents more than 15 customizable safety, privacy, and well-being features to tailor their teen’s TikTok experience.
Promoting Healthier Digital Habits for Teens
To assist teenagers in developing more mindful screen time habits, TikTok is introducing a Wind-Down feature for users under 16.
If they remain active on TikTok after 10 PM, their For You Feed will showcase a full-screen reminder with calming music, encouraging them to log off.
If they continue scrolling, a second, more persistent notification will appear.
Initial trials indicate that most teens prefer to keep these reminders enabled, reinforcing the effectiveness of this feature in fostering positive digital practices.
In the coming weeks, TikTok will also test meditation exercises within this feature, as research suggests that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality.
“At TikTok, safety is at the core of everything we do,” stated Adam Presser, Head of Operations & Trust and Safety at TikTok.
“These new updates highlight our commitment to providing families with tools that promote healthy digital habits.
“By enhancing Family Pairing, strengthening our industry partnerships, and launching innovative well-being features, we aim to ensure that young users can explore, create, and connect in a safe and positive online environment.”
Encouraging Young Learners in STEM
TikTok’s commitment to educational content is continually growing.
Since the launch of its dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) feed, millions of teenagers worldwide have engaged with STEM-related content, stimulating curiosity and learning in an enjoyable and accessible way.
The STEM feed is now available in over 100 countries, offering young users inspiration, innovation, and expert-led educational resources on TikTok.
Industry Partnerships Enhancing Online Safety Standards
TikTok is proactively collaborating with global leaders to improve age assurance and digital safety across the industry.
The platform utilizes machine learning for age verification, ensuring that younger users have access to an age-appropriate experience while removing non-compliant accounts.
In partnership with Telefónica, TikTok is exploring mobile service provider-based age verification to bolster authentication and security measures.
Additionally, TikTok actively participates in the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, working with the Centre for Information Policy Leadership and the WeProtect Global Alliance to establish best practices for age verification on digital platforms.
As part of its commitment to centering young voices in platform improvements, TikTok is expanding its Global Youth Council for 2025.
After a successful inaugural year, the council—first established in 2023—was designed to amplify the perspectives of teens and enhance their experiences on the platform.
This year, the council has nearly doubled in size, now comprising 28 members from 15 countries, including new representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, and Australia.
Returning members from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the UK, and the US will continue their roles for a second term.
The Youth Council is vital in shaping TikTok’s safety, well-being, and inclusivity policies, ensuring that the platform evolves to meet the needs and experiences of young users globally.
Through these recent updates, TikTok reaffirms its commitment to digital safety and well-being by implementing enhanced supervision tools, encouraging healthier online behaviors for teens, and fortifying collaborations with safety experts.
These initiatives demonstrate the platform’s ongoing efforts to create a safer and more supportive digital environment for families.
