TikTok Strengthens Family Pairing: Increased Control and Transparency for Parents

Johannesburg – TikTok is introducing enhanced parental controls and well-being tools aimed at helping families nurture healthier digital habits in teenagers.

These enhancements are part of TikTok’s ongoing dedication to online safety, improving Family Pairing by offering parents increased supervision while promoting responsible and mindful screen time among younger users.

The newest features include:

• Time Away Scheduling – Parents can establish bespoke screen-free time slots (such as during school hours, bedtime, or weekends). Teens may request additional screen time, but parental approval is required.
• Teen Network Visibility – Parents can now see whom their teen follows, who follows them, and any blocked accounts, fostering open dialogue regarding online interactions.
• Proactive Reporting Alerts – Soon, when a teen reports content that may breach TikTok’s Community Guidelines, they will have the option to inform a designated adult, even if Family Pairing is not activated.

With these updates, Family Pairing now provides parents with more than 15 customizable safety, privacy, and well-being features to personalize their teen’s TikTok experience.

Encouraging Healthier Digital Habits for Teens

To aid teenagers in cultivating more mindful screen time practices, TikTok is launching a Wind-Down feature for users under 16.

If they remain active on TikTok after 10 PM, their For You Feed will display a full-screen reminder accompanied by soothing music, encouraging them to log off.

If they continue to scroll, a second, more insistent notification will appear.

Initial trials suggest that most teens prefer to keep these reminders active, further validating the effectiveness of this feature in promoting positive digital behaviours.

In the upcoming weeks, TikTok will also test meditation exercises within this feature, as studies indicate that mindful meditation can enhance sleep quality.

“At TikTok, safety is central to everything we undertake,” stated Adam Presser, Head of Operations & Trust and Safety at TikTok.

“These new updates underscore our commitment to equipping families with tools that support healthy digital habits.

“By enriching Family Pairing, enhancing our industry collaborations, and rolling out innovative well-being features, we’re striving to ensure that young users can explore, create, and connect in a secure and positive online space.”

Empowering Young Learners with STEM

TikTok’s dedication to educational content continues to expand.

Since the launch of its dedicated Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) feed, millions of teenagers globally have engaged with STEM-related material, boosting curiosity and learning in an enjoyable and accessible manner.

The STEM feed is now accessible in over 100 nations, providing young users with inspiration, innovation, and expert-led educational resources on TikTok.

Industry Partnerships Driving Online Safety Standards

TikTok is actively partnering with global leaders to enhance age assurance and digital safety industry-wide.

The platform employs machine learning for age verification, guaranteeing that younger users enjoy an age-appropriate experience while removing accounts that do not comply with the platform’s standards.

In collaboration with Telefónica, TikTok is also investigating mobile service provider-based age verification to enhance authentication and security measures.

Furthermore, TikTok plays a significant role in the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, collaborating with 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 centering young voices in platform enhancements, TikTok is broadening its Global Youth Council for 2025.

After a productive inaugural year, the council—first launched in 2023—was crafted to amplify teen perspectives and improve their experiences on the platform.

This year, the council has nearly doubled in size, now consisting of 28 members from 15 countries, including fresh representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, and Australia.

Returning members from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the UK, and the US will continue their roles for a second term.

The Youth Council is crucial in shaping TikTok’s safety, well-being, and inclusivity policies, ensuring that the platform evolves according to the needs and experiences of young users globally.

With these recent updates, TikTok reaffirms its dedication to digital safety and well-being by introducing enhanced supervision tools, encouraging healthier online behaviours for teens, and strengthening collaborations with safety experts.

These initiatives reflect the platform’s ongoing efforts to cultivate a safer and more supportive digital environment for families.