TikTok has launched a suite of new features to give parents more control over their childrens' use of the short-form video app.
TikTok is one of the most popular apps among young people, serving as a key source of news and information. But it has come under fire for what critics say can be harmful and addictive content.
The latest updates, which go beyond parental controls, come as politicians across Europe weigh whether to ban children and young teenagers from social media.
Here are the key changes coming to TikTok.
Improving young people's experience
TikTok is making updates to its Family Pairing tool, which allows parents to partner with their children to create a safer online environment.
The new version gives caregivers more features, including the ability to receive notifications when their child posts public content, check privacy settings - for example, whether video downloads are enabled - and hide specific accounts so that they do not appear in their child's feed.
Beginning in Europe, the company will also allow parents to block their children from seeing certain TikTok accounts.
"We heard from parents that they know best what content is suitable for their teen, and this tool gives them another way to customise their teen's TikTok experience," Suzy Loftus, head of trust and safety for TikTok US data security, said in a blog post explaining the changes.
Additional changes to the app
TikTok also launched a new wellbeing feature designed to help users build healthy online habits, from limiting screen time to learning about wellbeing tools.
The so-called "missions" are simple and accessible, with badges and access to additional materials awarded for completion. The whole thing will be integrated into a new wellbeing module, available directly in the app.
The company is also launching new features to help online creators operate in a less toxic environment.
For example, Creator Care Mode is a filter that automatically blocks offensive comments before they are published. New options for live streaming will allow specific words, phrases, and emojis to be muted in real time.
In response to the growing threat of online misinformation, TikTok is testing a Footnotes feature in the United States. Users can add context, sources, and other information underneath videos.
Similar to Community Notes on the social media platforms X and Facebook, TikTok is effectively looking to crowdsource quality control for the information on its app.
The new features will roll out globally in the coming months.
