TikTok is launching new tools for parents to manage the use of TikTok by their children and make sure they’re taking breaks away from its addictive, endless ‘For You” feed.
This can cause a problem because TikTok’s algorithm is so tuned that it will show you videos you are interested in, on repeat. You can easily lose hours scrolling mindlessly. This is bad for your health, because you’re exposed to harmful substances and may not be able to focus if you don’t sleep enough.
Many parents will welcome these new updates to TikTok.
TikTok has added a new feature to its Family Paring function that allows parents to restrict TikTok usage at certain times during the day.
In this case, the parents can now restrict the use of the application by using the TikTok in-app toolkit.
As per TikTok:
“ Caretakers can now use the Time Away feature, which allows them to choose when their teens should take a rest. This could be during family time, after school or on a weekend. You can set up a schedule that will repeat to suit your family’s needs. Teenagers can ask for extra time if plans change. Parents make the final decisions. ”
Parents can already control screen time using third party tools, but TikTok Direct will give them more options.
TikTok has also added a function which will allow parents to view who their teens are following and who is following them on TikTok. They can also see any blocked accounts.
This could also be a protective measure to ensure that parents are aware of the activity their children engage in on an app without being intrusive.
TikTok has also added a “Wind Down”, which encourages young users to turn off their app during the night.
” After 10pm on TikTok, a teenager under 16 will see our For You feature. Wind down function. This is the full-screen feature that launches at launch. It has calming music and helps teens to relax. “If a teenager decides to continue using TikTok beyond the initial reminder, we display a second full-screen, more difficult to ignore prompt.
TikTok has tested this feature out in certain regions. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Many teens chose to leave these alerts turned on even though they could turn them off.
This is good news, as TikTok’s users have become more conscious of its addictive nature and need to take a break from scrolling endlessly.
It is also important to note that. In various reports, the addicting nature of social applications and their expanded effects on users, particularly younger ones, have been highlighted. While some areas are looking at banning social apps and imposing restrictions on teens, this approach could also remove the benefits that social platforms provide, such as the interactive and social features.
Parental awareness will likely be more valuable and beneficial in the long run. It can take a lot of time to manage this, and parents may not be able to stay on top of it all the time.
This is when tools such as these can be very useful, giving parents more ability to manage the social media exposure of their children.
Read more here about TikTok’s newest teen safety updates.
