TikTok to introduce 60-minute screen time limit for under-18s

dailyrecord.co.uk:

TikTok is introducing a new feature that limits the amount of time that under-18s are able to spend on the app.The tech firm worked alongside experts from the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital to choose a suitable limit.

While there was "no collectively-endorsed position on the 'right' amount of screen time" they opted for 60 minutes.The screen limit is being rolled out "in the coming weeks" across all accounts that belong to users younger than 18.TikTok Head of Trust and Safety, Cormac Keenan, wrote: "In the coming weeks, every account belonging to a user below age 18 will automatically be set to a 60-minute daily screen time limit."And parents with younger teens who have family pairing set up, in which a parent can monitor their child's TikTok usage, will be able to set custom screen time limits, see their child's screen time dashboard and mute notifications.However, those with children aged under 18 who manage their own accounts should know that young people will be able to enter a passcode to extend the time limit.

Users will also be able to opt out of the upcoming change, however those who opt out and exceed 100 minutes of screen time a day will be sent a prompt by TikTok to set their own screen time controls.A similar prompt rolled out last year helped increase the use of our screen time tools by 234 percent.

In addition, every teen will be sent a weekly recap of their screen time.ConnectSafely President & CEO Larry Magid commented: "Family Pairing is an opportunity for parents and teens to collaborate on developing healthy online habits. "It's not parental control, it's parental involvement and an opportunity for parents and teens to learn from each other."TikTok is also rolling out a sleep