TikTok's Listening? 📱 Mental Health Fix 🔥

Tech & Science

TikTok is implementing a new strategy centered on user well-being, introducing a suite of innovative features designed to support time management and mental health. This approach includes a digital affirmation journal offering over 120 positive prompts to help users set intentions for the day, alongside a sound generator capable of playing calming sounds like rain or ocean waves, and a dedicated breathing exercise module for relaxation. Recognizing the significance of mindful usage, TikTok is rewarding users with badges for achieving goals, such as avoiding screen time at night or adhering to set daily limits – users earn these badges by completing tasks like viewing their weekly screen time report or inviting friends to join these efforts. The company’s strategy is firmly grounded in careful attention to research on teen mental health, acknowledging that overly restrictive tools can be counterproductive. To simplify access for users, particularly teenagers, TikTok provides helpful links directing them to these new well-being tools when they reach their daily screen time limit or use the app late at night. In July, the company expanded its offerings with the launch of new parental control tools, enabling guardians to monitor teen activity and manage their feeds.