Sections of this topic
In this article, we will be discussing the recently introduced screen time restriction for TikTok users under the age of 18.
Key Takeaways:
- Users of TikTok who are below 18 years old now have a limit of 60 minutes per day on their screen time, according to the new update introduced by the video-sharing app.
- Users under 18 will receive a weekly notification of their screen time.
- Parents can set screen time limits and access a dashboard to see the breakdown of app usage using the Family Pairing option.
- The purpose of the new feature is to assist minors in managing their use of the app.
- Experts from Boston Children’s Hospital Digital Wellness Lab were consulted in setting the 60-minute limit.
- Critics are urging the platform to eliminate harmful content from feeds to provide a secure environment for children.
- TikTok has unveiled four additional features to promote healthy use of the app and decrease screen time among young users.
TikTok, the popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app, has announced a new daily screen time limit of 60 minutes for users under 18 years old.
TikTok’s newly introduced feature aims to assist young users in controlling their app usage, with a passcode prompt to be displayed once the daily limit of 60 minutes is reached. However, the limit can be opted out of by users who choose to do so.
Increased Use of Screen Time Tools
TikTok introduced a prompt last year to encourage teens to manage their screen time, resulting in a 234% increase in the use of its screen time tools. The app requires users to be at least 13 years old, and users under 18 will now receive a weekly notification of their screen time.
Customizable Parental Controls
If parents use the Family Pairing feature on TikTok, they can set limits on how long their kids use the app and check how they’re using it on a dashboard.
Cormac Keenan, the person responsible for trust and safety at TikTok, mentioned that they collaborated with experts to come up with these new limits. TikTok sought advice from professionals at the Digital Wellness Lab of Boston Children’s Hospital when deciding on the 60-minute daily screen time limit for users under 18.
Criticism and Response
The new feature has been positively received by critics, who believe that it’s just the beginning of TikTok’s efforts to protect young users from harmful content. As per a research conducted by The Center for Countering Digital Hate, TikTok’s algorithm exposes harmful content to teenagers multiple times. The center’s CEO, Imran Ahmed, urged the platform to remove such content from users’ feeds and make it a safe environment for children.
Other Changes
TikTok has introduced four additional features to help its younger users manage their screen time and promote their well-being. Along with the daily screen time limit, teens will receive weekly notifications of their screen time.
Family Pairing, TikTok’s customizable parental controls, will allow parents to set custom limits and see the breakdown of app usage. These changes aim to make users more aware of their screen time and promote healthy use of the app.
