TikTok will pause nighttime scrolling with relaxing music.

TikTok has decided to implement a full-screen reminder to help teenage users stop scrolling through content at night, suggesting that they take a break, relax, and prepare for bed. With a focus on the safety and well-being of its younger audience, the platform has incorporated new parental control measures. Among the updates is the addition of a meditation feature that allows parents to make decisions about the content accessible to their children.

Parents will be able to restore access to a feed dedicated to STEM content if it has been disabled, as well as set customizable time limits for daily app usage. By default, users under the age of 18 have a usage limit of one hour per day. Another feature is the ability for parents to change the account settings to private, even if the teenager had made it public. Additionally, the "Time Away" feature allows parents to block access to TikTok during specific times, such as during classes or meals.

These parental controls are part of an effort to address the growing concern about the impact of social media and short content on teenagers' mental health. Research has shown that TikTok can have negative effects on mental health, while the rapid consumption of short videos may shorten young people's attention spans.

The new "wind down" feature shows a reminder to teenagers urging them to take a break, playing relaxing music and offering breathing exercises. If users continue to navigate after the first notice, TikTok will provide another more forceful reminder. According to Dr. Vicki Harrison, a member of TikTok's Content Advisory Council, the platform has taken steps to meet the requests of young people and families seeking tools that promote well-being during app use.

TikTok maintains restrictions for users under 13 years old and automatically blocks nighttime notifications for those under 16.