TikTok introduces new features for parents to closer monitor teens

Is this the answer that concerned parents have been looking for?

Parents around the globe have come to the realisation that the concern for teens and social media isn't ever going to go away. 

So to provide some extra reassurance, social media platform, TikTok, has introduced new features that will help families "control their scroll" - or rather, their teen's scroll. 

Launching on 3rd June, the new features focus heavily on safety, well-being, and empowering you to tailor what your family sees. Yes, the WHOLE family. 

So what does this actually mean? 

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More control over the "for you" feed

The "for you" feed is at the heart of the TikTok experience, and these new features provide greater steering capabilities.

First up is "Manage Topics". This feature allows users to fine-tune how much content they see on particular subjects. Think of it as a dimmer switch: you can "dial up" more of what you love or "dial down" topics you're less interested in.

While it won't eliminate topics entirely, it significantly influences how often they pop up as interests evolve. This builds on existing ways users shape their feed, like liking videos or searching for content.

Then there are "Smart Keyword Filters", which are getting a major upgrade. These filters allow you to input specific words you don't want to see in your feed. The big news? You can now include up to 200 keywords, doubling the previous limit.

What's even more impressive is the new AI technology at play. This AI will capture additional videos featuring similar words, synonyms, and even slang variations of your chosen keywords, acting as a much more robust shield against unwanted content. 

These new controls complement existing safeguards like the "not interested" button (allowing users to long-press and remove content they dislike) and the "refresh your feed" option, which lets users completely reset their feed if it feels stale or irrelevant.

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Family pairing 

One of the most vital tools for parents is "Family Pairing". This feature allows parents to take direct control of their teens' accounts. This includes managing screen time limits, controlling the type of content they can see, and now, also overseeing these newly announced content filtering features.

Winding down for sleep - encouraging healthier habits

Recognising the importance of sleep, TikTok is introducing an in-app guided meditation feature. This new feature is designed to encourage users to switch off around 10pm. 

During those post 10pm "sleep hours", a meditation exercise will interrupt scrolling. For adults, this feature is optional and can be turned on in settings. But for teens under 18, this feature is turned on by default after 10 pm.

If your teen tries to ignore the initial reminder, a second, more prominent, full-screen prompt will appear, making it harder to dismiss. 

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Supporting youth mental health

As well as these new changes, TikTok has also declared more support in the mental wellbeing space.

Knowing that 73% of young Australians turn to social media for mental health support, TikTok is donating over $2.3 million USD to organisations globally to help them produce "authoritative, engaging, and uplifting mental health content".

This includes supporting six key organisations in Australia and New Zealand, such as ReachOut Australia, The Man Cave, and PROJECT ROCKIT, providing them with advertising credits and training to foster supportive online discussions.

While creators believe these changes will provide a comprehensive way for parents to work with their teens to create a safe and balanced online environment - rather than a complete social media ban - how this will play out for many families is yet to be seen.

Originally published as TikTok introduces new features for parents to closer monitor teens