LOS ANGELES (Kashmir English): TikTok has introduced major updates to its Family Pairing feature, enabling parents to have greater control while fostering healthier digital habits among teenagers.
The reinforcement of wellness tools and new controls reflect TikTok’s commitment to online safety and responsible screen time.
TikTok Family Pairing Feature
Under the new tools, parents can now choose screen-free periods. Parents can set specific times, such as bedtime, school hours, or weekends, when TikTok use is restricted.
Teens can request extra time, but final approval to remain with parents.
Under the visibility enhancement scheme, parents can see who their teen follows, who follows them, and which accounts have been blocked, encouraging open discussions about online interactions.
Additionally, when teens report content that violates TikTok’s guidelines, they will have the option to notify a trusted adult—even if the Family Pairing feature isn’t enabled.
TikTok is also rolling out a Wind-Down Feature for users under 16, discouraging excessive nighttime scrolling.
After 10 PM, the For You feed will display calming music and prompts urging teens to log off. If they continue browsing, persistent reminders will appear, reinforcing mindful screen time.
Industry-wide online safety measures
The platform is reaching out to global leaders to enhance age verification and enforce its under-13 user restrictions through machine learning.
TikTok is also partnering with Telefónica for mobile-based age verification solutions.
China’s ByteDance has a deadline this Saturday to sell TikTok’s US assets to a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban, as announced by President Donald Trump in January.
