Teen safety is a huge concern on apps like TikTok. After many, many lawsuits related to the matter, TikTok has announced it has extended its suite of child safety features. One way TikTok safety tools are improving is by expanding its “Family Pairing” features.
For instance, parents can use the “Time Away” feature to block teens from using TikTok during certain times of the day. Parents can also see information like who their child follows, who follows them, and who they have blocked.
Additionally, when a child reports a TikTok, they will given the option to contact a parent, even without Family Pairing. This specific feature will be available in the coming weeks.
TikTok is also introducing a “wind down” feature to discourage heavy screen time before bed. After 10 p.m., teens under sixteen get a full-screen reminder that it’s time to relax away from screens. Push notifications will also be disabled at night.
But will these features be enough to fix TikTok’s safety problems?
What’s Everyone Saying About It?
Dr Vicki Harrison is a member of TikTok’s Content Advisory Counsel and Program Director for Stanford Psychiatry’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing. In a statement about the new features, she said:
“TikTok has responded to calls from both youth and their families for more tools that will help them support their wellbeing while using the app. Prioritizing sleep, balanced usage and more parent-teen interactions around social media use are all positive steps that I hope we see more of.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Balkam, CEO and Founder of the Family Online Safety Institute, added:
“TikTok’s latest iteration of its parental controls and online safety tools is a welcome development for families looking to both protect their children from harm and empower them as responsible digital citizens. Most importantly, these tools give parents greater support in fostering open, ongoing conversations about their children’s technology use.”
