TikTok, that app where teenagers spend hours scrolling mindlessly, will now be offering guided meditation sessions to the younger crowd if they happen to still be on the app past 10pm. This move is part of TikTok’s efforts to address some of the mental health issues that come with social media use, as more and more people are calling on Big Tech to prioritize the well-being of young users. So, if you’re a teen on TikTok late at night, get ready to have your feed interrupted by a meditation exercise that’s supposed to help you sleep better. And if you try to ignore it, TikTok will hit you with a second, full-screen prompt that’s not so easy to brush off. Adults can also access this feature, but for those under 18, it’s automatically turned on.
When TikTok tested out this new meditation feature, they found that a whopping 98% of teenagers decided to keep it on. That’s pretty impressive, considering how easily teens can usually get distracted by the next shiny thing. In addition to this, TikTok also made an announcement about dedicating ad space on the app to mental health charities. It’s a small step in the right direction, but there’s a lot more that needs to be done to ensure the safety and well-being of young users on platforms like TikTok.
In the UK, there are some strict rules coming into play for companies that don’t take action to prevent harmful content from showing up on young people’s social media feeds. Starting in July, these companies could face fines or even be banned if they don’t step up their game. It’s about time someone held these tech giants accountable for the content that’s being pushed onto young, impressionable minds. And it’s not just the UK – Australia is also getting in on the action by banning under-16s from using social media starting in December. That’s a pretty bold move, but one that’s necessary to protect the innocence of children in today’s digital age. So, kudos to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for standing up for the kids and making sure parents know that someone’s got their backs.
As if TikTok and other social media platforms weren’t already doing enough to protect young users, Meta and Snapchat have also introduced some new measures to keep the kiddos safe online. Meta has come out with restricted Teen accounts, while Snapchat is making it harder for adults to slide into young people’s DMs. It’s good to see these companies finally taking some responsibility for what happens on their platforms. Maybe they’re starting to realize that there’s more to life than just profits and engagement metrics. Who knows, maybe they’ll actually make a positive impact on the mental health of their users. But hey, we’ll believe it when we see it.
