TikTok is adding a new feature to its app that will interrupt users under the age of 18 with guided meditation exercises during "sleep hours." This initiative aims to address public concerns and lawsuits regarding TikTok’s impact on young users.
Feature Details
- Guided Meditation: The meditation feature is designed to improve sleep quality and will be triggered during "sleep hours." It will be enabled by default for users under 18.
- Usage After Hours: If a teen uses TikTok after 10 p.m., their "For You" feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise. If they continue using the app, they will receive a second full-screen meditation prompt.
- Encouragement to Relax: The goal is to encourage young users to take breaks from the app and engage in relaxing activities before bedtime.
Background and Testing
- TikTok began testing the new meditation exercises with select teens earlier this year, although the company has not disclosed the number of participants or the feedback received.
- This move comes amid growing concerns about social media’s impact on young people’s mental health. A bipartisan group of state attorneys general filed lawsuits against TikTok last year regarding its effects on youth.
Additional Well-Being Features
In addition to the guided meditations, TikTok plans to introduce other well-being features, including:
- A daily screen time limit
- A weekly summary showing daily phone usage
- An option for parents, guardians, and educators to set screen time limits for minors’ accounts
These features are expected to roll out in the coming weeks.
Industry Context
- A spokesperson for Meta-owned Instagram rival Threads confirmed that similar features, such as daily screen limits, were introduced last month.
- There has been increasing concern about social media companies’ impact on children’s well-being, with reports suggesting that some apps encourage kids aged 8 to 12 to spend up to six hours per day on their feeds.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
- Recently, Meta agreed to pay $725 million in compensation after being sued for allegedly violating US child protection laws by collecting data without parental consent when children signed up via third-party apps like Roblox.
- Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, stated that he would ban ads targeting children under 13 within two years, although he did not commit to not selling user data collected from these platforms once users reach adulthood.
This new initiative by TikTok reflects a broader industry trend towards promoting healthier online habits among young users.
I’m Mark W. Lamplugh Jr., a visionary Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and best-selling Author with over 25 years of experience driving significant revenue growth and optimizing ROI across the healthcare, wellness, and media industries. Throughout my career, I’ve consistently transformed underperforming operations into thriving ventures by building top-tier marketing organizations, implementing data-driven strategies, and leading transformational change. My empathetic, collaborative, and adaptable leadership style has allowed me to cultivate inclusive cultures of innovation, develop and retain top talent, and forge strong partnerships that fuel organizational success.
Adept in executive leadership, strategic business planning, and brand and marketing strategy, I have a proven track record of boosting annual revenues—achieving up to $1.3B in oncology over three years and generating $360M in mental health initiatives. My approach combines strategic vision with hands-on execution, as evidenced by my success in launching innovative facilities, expanding services for addiction and mental health care, and enhancing organizational brand visibility. As author of “The AI Marketing Playbook,” I contribute thought leadership on the integration of artificial intelligence in marketing, a role that showcases my commitment to staying at the forefront of industry innovation.
I also bring my insights and expertise to a broad audience as the host of cable tv & global streaming of “Street Level Marketing Show,” while my writing has been featured in major publications such as Entrepreneur, Business.com, The Startup, and Kivo Daily. Whether I’m implementing targeted digital marketing campaigns that engage over a million individuals monthly or overseeing multi-million dollar budgets to maximize return on investment, I approach every challenge with a combination of strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and unwavering dedication. Above all, I am passionate about expanding access to high-quality addiction and mental health care through innovative solutions that drive both patient outcomes and organizational growth.
Mark serves on the board of One World for Life, National Fire Heritage Center, and the Institute for Responder Wellness.
Mark (https://marklamplugh.com) is one of the top marketing executives in the United States and has revolutionized how companies reach potential clients thru influence, SEO, social, PR, and traditional marketing. His expertise in Marketing, Social Media, Digital Marketing, and Public Relations has generated millions of dollars in revenue for several national companies. Mark documents many of his techniques in his book “Beginners Guide to Social & Digital Media.” and “Marketing Playbook for Social Media,” which was named the top 100 social media marketing books of all time by Book Authority. He’s also a professional advocate for the behavioral and mental health of firefighters and other first responders. Marks articles have been published in Better Marketing, Startup Magazine, Social Media Today, Kivo Daily, Biz Catalyst 360, Fire Engineering, Firehouse Magazine, and several others.
One of his companies, niches, are marketing products and services to the public safety industry and their employees, specifically mental & behavioral health services. He can be reached for comment at ceo@influencemediasolutions.com
23,000 #1 Connections, 40,000,000 US B2B Contacts and 300,000,000 B2b/B2C email contacts as well as 1,000,000+ monthly social media reach. https://marklamplugh.com
