TikTok is rolling out expanded screen-time management features designed to help users better control their app usage and promote digital well-being. The update, announced Wednesday, introduces tools aimed at encouraging mindful habits, including a positive affirmation journal, calming soundscapes, and guided breathing exercises.
New Features for Digital Balance
The revamped “Time and Well-Being” section now includes over 120 downloadable journal prompts to promote positive self-reflection. Users can also access a sound generator offering calming audio and breathing exercises to reduce stress. TikTok is further gamifying the experience with “well-being missions” that reward users with badges for setting and achieving screen time limits, particularly during nighttime hours.
Collaboration with Experts and Young Users
TikTok states the feature was developed with input from digital well-being experts and its TikTok Youth Council. The platform emphasizes that these tools cater to individual preferences, allowing users to either increase or decrease their engagement based on their needs. Notably, teen users on TikTok already have access to 50 preset safety features linked to their accounts.
“This idea, born thanks to the TikTok Youth Council, recognizes the impact young people can have when given the right platform,” said Tomáš Čermák, a member of the advisory group.
Future Investment in Digital Well-Being Research
TikTok has also committed $100,000 to the Tech Coalition SafeOnline Research Fund in 2026. This funding will support research at the intersection of youth, researchers, and digital well-being, highlighting the platform’s long-term commitment to addressing concerns around screen time and mental health.
The move comes as social media platforms increasingly face scrutiny over their impact on user well-being, particularly among younger demographics. TikTok’s initiative aims to provide users with greater agency over their digital habits, while also signaling a broader industry shift toward more responsible platform design.
