TikTok has launched new features aimed at giving parents more control over their teenagers’ screen time and interactions on the platform.
The updates expand the Family Pairing tool, allowing parents to set specific times when their teens cannot access TikTok, see who they interact with, and even receive alerts when their child reports inappropriate content.
Again, the platform is introducing a wind-down mode to encourage teens under 16 to step away from their screens at night.
Since launching Family Pairing five years ago, TikTok has continuously added features to help parents supervise their teenagers’ online activities. With the new Time Away function, parents can now block access to TikTok during specific hours, such as school time, family gatherings, or bedtime.
They can also create a recurring schedule to reinforce screen time habits. If a teen requests extra time, parents have the final say on whether to approve it.
To improve visibility into their teen’s digital social circle, TikTok is adding a feature that allows parents to see who their child follows, who follows them, and which accounts they have blocked. In addition, when a teen reports content they believe violates TikTok’s guidelines, they now have the option to notify a trusted adult at the same time.
Parents also have more control over their teen’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) feed, which has gained popularity among young users worldwide. If a teen disables this feature, parents can re-enable it.
Other adjustable settings include:
- Customised daily screen time limits – parents can set different usage limits for weekdays and weekends, requiring a passcode to extend screen time.
- Privacy settings management – if a teen makes their account public, parents can switch it back to private.
In a bid to curb excessive social media use at night, TikTok is rolling out a new wind-down mode. If a teen under 16 remains active on the app past 10pm, their For You feed will be interrupted by a full-screen message accompanied by calming music, encouraging them to log off. If they continue using the app, a second, more persistent prompt appears.
TikTok is also testing in-app meditation exercises as part of this feature, drawing from research that suggests mindfulness practices improve sleep quality. The platform already restricts push notifications for teens during nighttime hours.
Dr Vicki Harrison, a member of TikTok’s Content Advisory Counsel and Programme Director for Stanford Psychiatry’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing, praised the update, stating:
“TikTok has responded to calls from both youth and their families for more tools that will help them support their wellbeing while using the app. Prioritising sleep, balanced usage, and more parent-teen interactions around social media use are all positive steps that I hope we see more of.”
TikTok is also working on more robust age verification measures to ensure that children under 13 do not access the platform. The company is partnering with Telefónica to explore ways in which mobile providers can help confirm users’ ages.
Added to this, TikTok is supporting the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, an initiative that brings together policymakers, regulators, and child safety organisations to discuss industry-wide solutions.
The platform is making an effort to simplify online safety for parents through its Digital Safety Partnership for Families. This initiative provides parents with guidance on setting digital boundaries, ensuring that conversations about online experiences are not limited to TikTok but apply across all platforms.
Stephen Balkam, CEO and founder of the Family Online Safety Institute, welcomed TikTok’s new approach:
“TikTok’s latest iteration of its parental controls and online safety tools is a welcome development for families looking to both protect their children from harm and empower them as responsible digital citizens. Most importantly, these tools give parents greater support in fostering open, ongoing conversations about their children’s technology use.”
TikTok encourages feedback from parents and teens to help make better improvements in future.
