TikTok Strengthens Digital Safety with Expanded Parental Controls and Teen Well-Being Features

By Isaac OGANGA

TikTok is rolling out new safety and well-being tools designed to support families in fostering healthier digital habits for teens. These updates, part of TikTok’s ongoing commitment to online safety, enhance Family Pairing by giving parents more oversight while encouraging mindful screen time among younger users.

Since launching Family Pairing five years ago, TikTok has continuously introduced new features based on expert recommendations and community feedback. The latest updates include:

• Time Away Scheduling: Parents can now set custom screen-free periods (e.g., during school hours, bedtime, or family time). Teens can request extra time, but parents have the final say.

• Expanded Family Visibility: Parents can view who their teen follows, who follows them, and block accounts, helping to facilitate open discussions about online interactions.

• Proactive Reporting Alerts to Parents: Soon, when a teen reports a video for potentially violating TikTok’s rules, they can choose to notify a trusted adult, even if Family Pairing isn’t enabled. This feature is designed to encourage ongoing conversations between teens and their families about their TikTok experience.
• New Wind-Down Feature: To encourage teens to log off at night, users under 16 who are on TikTok after 10 PM will see a full-screen reminder with calming music. If they continue, a second, harder-to-dismiss prompt will follow.

With these updates, Family Pairing now offers parents more than 15 customisable safety, privacy, and well-being features to tailor their teen’s experience on TikTok.

“At TikTok, safety is at the core of everything we do. These new updates are part of our ongoing commitment to empowering families with the tools they need to foster healthy digital habits.

By enhancing Family Pairing, strengthening our industry partnerships, and introducing innovative well-being features, we’re ensuring that young users can explore, create, and connect in a safe and positive online environment,” said Adam Presser, Head of Operations & Trust and Safety at TikTok.

Driving Digital Safety Through Strategic Partnerships in Kenya

#SaferTogether Campaign Milestones

TikTok’s #SaferTogether initiative has reached significant milestones in Kenya since its 2023 launch, providing communities with the knowledge and tools for responsible online engagement. Through a collaboration with Eveminet Communication Solutions Limited, a youth online protection organisation, the initiative has successfully engaged 390,000+ students, 6,504 parents, 5,307 teachers in in-person workshops nationwide

By collaborating with civil society organisations, educators, and government agencies, TikTok continues to invest in user safety, ensuring that proactive measures remain central to its platform governance.

Looking ahead, TikTok aims to expand #SaferTogether to 42 counties in Kenya in 2025, further solidifying its role as a leader in digital safety education.

Kenyan representation as part of Global Youth Council Expansion

TikTok is also expanding its Global Youth Council for 2025, following a successful first year. Originally launched in 2023, the council was created to amplify teen voices and improve their experience on the platform.

This year, the council has nearly doubled in size, now featuring 28 members from 15 countries, including new representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, and Australia. Returning members from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the UK, and the US will continue their participation for a second term.

The Youth Council plays a crucial role in shaping TikTok’s policies around safety, well-being, and inclusivity, ensuring that the platform continues to evolve with young users at its core.

TikTok’s Ongoing Commitment to Online Safety

TikTok is actively collaborating with global leaders to strengthen age assurance and digital safety across the industry.

The platform utilises machine learning to enforce age verification, ensuring younger users have an age-appropriate experience while removing accounts that do not meet the platform’s requirements. In partnership with Telefónica, TikTok is also exploring mobile service provider-based age verification, enhancing authentication and security measures.

Additionally, TikTok is a key participant in the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Age Assurance, working alongside the Centre for Information Policy Leadership and the WeProtect Global Alliance to establish best practices for age verification across digital platforms.

With these efforts, TikTok continues to champion responsible digital engagement, ensuring a safer and more supportive environment for teens and families worldwide.