TikTok is rolling out expanded parental controls and well-being tools designed to help families foster healthier digital habits for teens.
These updates, part of TikTok’s commitment to online safety, enhance Family Pairing by providing parents with greater oversight while encouraging responsible and mindful screen time among younger users. With these updates, Family Pairing now offers parents more than 15 customizable safety, privacy, and well-being features to tailor their teen’s experience on TikTok.
Encouraging Healthier Digital Habits for Teens
To help teens develop more mindful screen time habits, TikTok is introducing a Wind-Down feature for users under 16. If they remain active on TikTok after 10 PM, their For You Feed will be interrupted with a full-screen reminder and calming music, encouraging them to log off. If they continue scrolling, a second, more persistent prompt will follow.
Early trials indicate that most teens choose to keep these reminders enabled, reinforcing the feature’s effectiveness in shaping positive digital behaviors. Over the coming weeks, TikTok will test meditation exercises within the feature, as research shows that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality.
“At TikTok, safety is at the core of everything we do. These new updates are part of our ongoing commitment to empowering families with the tools they need to foster healthy digital habits. By enhancing Family Pairing, strengthening our industry partnerships, and introducing innovative well-being features, we’re ensuring that young users can explore, create, and connect in a safe and positive online environment,” said Adam Presser, Head of Operations & Trust and Safety at TikTok.
TikTok is actively collaborating with global leaders to strengthen age assurance and digital safety across the industry. The platform utilizes machine learning to enforce age verification, ensuring younger users have an age-appropriate experience while removing accounts that do not meet the platform’s requirements.
In partnership with Telefónica, TikTok is also exploring mobile service provider-based age verification, enhancing authentication and security measures. Additionally, TikTok is a key participant in the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, working alongside the Centre for Information Policy Leadership and the WeProtect Global Alliance to establish best practices for age verification across digital platforms.
As part of its commitment to putting young voices at the center of platform improvements, TikTok is expanding its Global Youth Council for 2025. Following a successful first year, the council—originally launched in 2023—was designed to amplify teen perspectives and enhance their experience on the platform.
This year, the council has nearly doubled in size, now featuring 28 members from 15 countries, including new representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, and Australia. Returning members from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the UK, and the US will continue their participation for a second term. The Youth Council plays a vital role in shaping TikTok’s safety, well-being, and inclusivity policies, ensuring that the platform continues to evolve with the needs and experiences of young users worldwide.
With these latest updates, TikTok is reinforcing its commitment to digital safety and well-being. These efforts reflect the platform’s ongoing work to create a safer and more supportive digital environment for families.
