TikTok’s New Screen Time Restrictions for Teens

As social media platforms face growing concerns over their impact on adolescent mental health, TikTok has taken a major step toward promoting responsible usage. The company has introduced new screen time limits for teenagers, aiming to give parents greater control over their children’s online habits. This update is part of TikTok’s broader strategy to enhance digital well-being and comply with global regulatory pressures.

Key Features of the Screen Time Limits

Starting March 2025, TikTok is rolling out a series of parental control features in specific regions:

✅ Parental Time Limits: Parents can set daily screen time restrictions for their teens.

✅ Scheduled Usage Windows: Guardians can control the specific hours during which TikTok can be accessed.

✅ Unbypassable ‘Time Away’ Feature: Once activated, the app will block usage until a parent manually disables it.

✅ Activity Insights for Parents:

• View who their teen follows.

• See who follows their teen.

• Monitor whom their teen has blocked.

These features first launch in the EU, followed by a US rollout in the coming months.

Additional Features for Teen Safety

TikTok is also implementing extra measures to create a healthier digital environment:

? ‘Meditation Mode’: Users under 16 years old will receive relaxation exercises and calming music after 10 PM to encourage better sleep habits. (This feature can be turned off.)

? Content Moderation Enhancements: TikTok now has over 6,000 moderators reviewing content in European languages, ensuring safer browsing.

? Stricter Age Enforcement: Between July and September 2024, TikTok removed 24 million accounts suspected of belonging to users under 13 years old.

Regulatory Pressures and Global Concerns

The introduction of these features comes as governments worldwide scrutinize TikTok’s impact on minors:

• ?? France’s Parliament has launched an investigation into TikTok’s psychological effects on teenagers.

• ?? Albania is considering a one-year ban on TikTok after reports of violent incidents linked to online interactions.

• ?? The European Union is closely monitoring TikTok’s influence on youth and its potential role in political misinformation.

How TikTok Compares to Other Platforms

TikTok’s latest update follows the industry trend of increased parental oversight. Recently, Instagram introduced similar time management features, and YouTube Kids has long offered parental controls for safer browsing.

Final Thoughts

As TikTok continues evolving, its new screen time limits and parental controls reflect a commitment to balancing entertainment with digital responsibility. These measures aim to enhance user safety, particularly for young audiences, while also addressing regulatory concerns worldwide.

With new features being gradually rolled out, it remains to be seen how effective they will be in helping teens maintain a healthier relationship with social media.

? Stay tuned for further updates on TikTok’s evolving safety policies!