David Bridges
TikTok has recently launched an innovative in-app meditation feature aimed at helping teen users effectively “wind down” at the end of their day. This new functionality is now being officially rolled out to all users, with a particular emphasis on automatically activating it for every user under the age of 18. This proactive measure is an attempt to promote healthier screen time habits among younger audiences.
When teens attempt to scroll through their feeds after 10 PM, they will encounter a full-screen guided meditation exercise designed to encourage relaxation and mindfulness. Although this prompt can be ignored, those who choose to dismiss it will face a second reminder that is intentionally more difficult to overlook. For adult users, the in-app meditation feature will be accessible through the app’s screen time controls, although it will not automatically activate for them.
According to the company, initial trials of the “Sleep Hours” feature have shown promising results, with an impressive 98 percent of teen participants opting to keep the late-night meditation settings enabled. However, previous attempts by TikTok to regulate screen time have yielded mixed outcomes. Internal documents revealed during a lawsuit indicated that teens were spending an average of 107 minutes per day on the app, even when a 60-minute limit was imposed.
In response to growing concerns about user safety, TikTok has enhanced its safety features, including the implementation of more robust parental controls. This move comes amid heightened scrutiny of the platform’s impact on young users. Furthermore, TikTok’s status in the United States remains uncertain, as President Donald Trump recently extended the deadline for a potential ban on the app. Negotiations regarding a final agreement that would permit TikTok to operate in the country without restrictions are still in progress, but various potential outcomes are under consideration.
Daniel Mercer
