UPDATE: TikTok enhances parental controls

How "timely"

Yesterday, TikTok announced improvements to their time controls. Here’s what you need to know:

Effective March 1, Teen accounts on TikTok (anyone under 18):

• are set to 60 min daily time limit

• will receive a weekly inbox notification that recaps their weekly screen time

Additional features are coming including

Family Pairing

• Parents will be able to customize their teen’s daily time limit

• Parents will be able to see their teen’s weekly screen time recap

• Parents will be able to mute notifications for their teens

All Accounts

• Everyone will be able to customize their daily time limit

Full article from TikTok’s newsroom can be found here.

My $0.02

These changes are smart for two reasons. They will help combat passive mindless scrolling for hours on end. They also put TikTok out ahead of other platforms in terms of the steps they are taking to provide protections for young people. TikTok definitely has more parental control features than Instagram, Snapchat and YouTube. Given the intense scrutiny on TikTok and their data practices right now, this move certainly helps them demonstrate to lawmakers and the public that they are trying to do the right thing- at least when it comes to teens and mental health.

And I do think these changes are solid. But managing time is only part of the battle. Content and communications controls could also do with some upgrades. I hope TikTok has plans for other improvements beyond the ones announced.