TikTok is rolling out a new screen time limit for users under 18.
The social media platform announced changes to “help teens manage their time on TikTok”. The company said that every account of Tiktok users under the age of 18 will soon be automatically set to a daily screen limit of 60 minutes.
Limiting screen time for teenagers has been a topic of debate among experts in recent years, with concerns about the potential negative impact of excessive screen time on mental health, physical health, and academic performance. Some studies have suggested that excessive screen time can lead to problems such as sleep deprivation, obesity, depression, and anxiety.
In response to these concerns, some social media platforms, including TikTok, have introduced features that allow users to set screen time limits or receive notifications when they have spent a certain amount of time on the app. However, the specific screen time limits and features may vary depending on the platform and the user’s age.
While setting screen time limits can be a useful tool for managing the use of social media and other digital devices, it is important to note that these limits may not be effective in isolation. It is also important for parents and caregivers to be actively involved in monitoring their children’s use of social media and to encourage healthy habits, such as getting enough sleep, engaging in physical activity, and spending time offline. Ultimately, finding a balance between the benefits and risks of screen time is a complex issue that requires ongoing research, education, and awareness.
TikTok recently announced new features to its video-sharing platform, including a feature that limits screen time for teenagers under 18 years of age.
While the company aims to safeguard the well-being of its young users, there is the potential to shut down the feature.
The feature will be rolled out to every teen user by default, with a time limit of 60 minutes in the coming weeks, reports The Verge.
After the screen time limit is reached, users will need to enter a passcode to continue using the app. TikTok fans who spend more than 100 minutes on the app in a day will be requested to set a new screen time limit, but they can also disable the feature completely.
TikTok claims that the new Time Limit feature has increased usage of its screen time management tools by 234 percent after the first month of testing it. An inbox notification will be sent to teen users informing them about their screen time on the platform in the past, to make them more aware of app addiction.
The social media company claims it consulted current academic research and experts from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital to determine how much screen time limits should be set for teens.
Cormac Keenan, Head of Trust and Safety at TikTok, says, “While there is no collectively supported consensus on how much screen time is ‘too much’, or even the impact of screen time more broadly, We recognize that teenagers usually need extra support as they begin to independently explore the online world.”
Users under the age of 18 will also be subject to the same settings, but in their case their parents can set a time limit and a passcode, an additional 30 minutes if the passcode is entered after the screen time limit is reached time can be given.
TikTok has also added Family Pairing to the platform, a tool for parents to link their TikTok account to a young user’s account. Settings can be customized and time limits can be set by day of the week.
In addition, the company has added content controls that will filter videos for kids using hashtags or keywords.
