TikTok has announced a new feature that allows parents to limit how much time their teenage children spend on the app.
This move comes as the popular social media platform faces growing concerns about how excessive screen time may affect young people’s mental health.
The new feature, called “Time Away,” will be launched immediately in the European Union (EU) and will roll out in the United States soon after.
According to TikTok, parents will be able to set time limits or specific time windows for their teens to use the app. Importantly, teens will not be able to bypass the “Time Away” block unless their parents deactivate it through their own accounts.
TikTok, which has over one billion users worldwide, also announced that parents will soon be able to see the list of people their teens follow, who follows them back, and any accounts their teens have blocked.
Additionally, for users under 16, TikTok will introduce a “Meditation” feature after 10 pm. This tool will suggest relaxation exercises with calming music to help teens unwind, though they will have the option to turn it off.
The update comes as TikTok faces intense scrutiny across the EU and beyond. Lawmakers are raising concerns about the platform’s influence on teenagers and its potential for spreading harmful content.
In France, the parliament is preparing to launch an investigation into TikTok’s psychological impact on children. Meanwhile, Albania is considering a one-year ban on the app following a fatal fight between teenagers allegedly sparked by an online argument.
A TikTok spokesperson in Paris revealed that the company employs over 6,000 moderators who review content in European languages. “That’s more than all the other platforms put together,” the spokesperson said.
He also noted that between July and September last year, TikTok removed more than 24 million accounts suspected to belong to users under the age of 13.
TikTok claims that it takes swift action to remove harmful content, stating that over 95 percent of inappropriate videos are deleted within 24 hours, and 90 percent are taken down before anyone sees them.
