As a growing number of lawmakers in the US and around the world seek to impose restrictions on how long teens and children use social media apps, TikTok is taking a stand against these regulations. The company claims that, contrary to these legal restrictions, the new features it has added to the platform will be far more effective in improving user well-being.
New Features Claimed to Promote ‘Responsible Use’
TikTok is among the tech giants trying to block these laws in court and has now announced a series of new measures it claims will be more effective than imposing usage limits. The company has revamped its old screen time management page and added the following new features:
- Breathing Exercises: Offers guided exercises that include different types of mindful breathing techniques.
- Affirmation Journal: This feature allows users to set their intentions for the day and includes over 120 different affirmation cards that can be downloaded or shared with others.
- Soothing Sound Generator: Features soothing sounds like rain, waves, and white noise. According to the company’s survey data, TikTok users are 14% more likely to listen to music to help them sleep or relax than those who don’t use the platform.
App Badges: The app offers young users the opportunity to earn badges for completing “well-being tasks.” These tasks include setting and adhering to screen time limits, staying away from TikTok at night, and meditating.
The company also states that it will send alerts to those using the app during designated “sleep hours” to visit the time and well-being section in the app’s settings.
TikTok argues that such mindful use tools are a more organic and effective solution than strict legal restrictions. However, critics argue that the primary purpose of these new features is to keep users on the platform longer and are an attempt to avoid regulatory oversight.
