CBC News —TikTok Time Limits Too Little, Too Late
Have you ever been watching videos on TikTok when suddenly a parent calls you for dinner and you realize you've been on the app for more than two hours?
Teens aged 13 to 18 will soon have a new feature to limit how much time they spend on the app, TikTok has announced.
The company is doing this to address concerns about younger users of the app.
This announcement was made on March 1, around the same time that Canada’s federal government announced it would be removing TikTok from government-issued devices.
But since the feature can be turned off, some experts are skeptical about whether it will actually make a difference, especially given that TikTok is designed to keep users on the app.
How the new settings will work
The new feature will be added to existing screen time tools.
It will include a default 60-minute daily time limit for anyone 18 and under and a screen time dashboard.
When the 60-minute limit is reached, notifications will be muted.
If teenagers want to keep using the app, they’ll get an alert and must enter a passcode to continue.
This feature will be automatically set for all users under 18, but teens can turn it off if they choose.
There will also be a custom time-limit setting available, so users can set up their own alerts even if they opt out of the default.
In a news release, TikTok said it worked with experts from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, to decide on the 60-minute limit.
It will impact any user aged 18 and younger around the world.
Experts remains skeptical about new feature
Experts are skeptical whether this new feature will make a difference for the mental health of teenagers.
CBC Kids News spoke to Christina Crook, who is a digital wellness expert in Toronto, Ontario.
She said that the setting will “put a digital speed bump in place,” which could create more intentional use.
“Is it going to radically reduce teen screen time? I guess that remains to be seen,” said Crook.
