NAIROBI, Kenya – TikTok is introducing enhanced safety and well-being features aimed at helping families foster healthier digital habits for teens.
The new tools, part of TikTok’s Family Pairing update, give parents greater oversight while encouraging young users to practice mindful screen time.
“These new updates are part of our ongoing commitment to empowering families with the tools they need to foster healthy digital habits,” said Adam Presser, TikTok’s Head of Operations and Trust and Safety.
Since launching Family Pairing five years ago, TikTok has regularly introduced new safety features based on expert recommendations and community feedback.
The latest updates include:
- Time Away Scheduling – Parents can now set custom screen-free periods, such as during school hours, bedtime, or family time.
- Expanded Family Visibility – Parents will be able to see who their teen follows, who follows them, and block accounts to encourage open discussions about online interactions.
- Proactive Reporting Alerts – If a teen reports a video for potentially violating TikTok’s rules, they can now choose to notify a trusted adult, even if Family Pairing is not enabled.
- Wind-Down Feature – Teens under 16 using TikTok after 10 PM will see a full-screen reminder with calming music. If they continue using the app, a second, harder-to-dismiss prompt will follow.
With these updates, TikTok now offers over 15 customizable safety, privacy, and well-being features for parents.
In Kenya, TikTok’s #SaferTogether initiative, launched in 2023, has already reached 390,000+ students, 6,504 parents, and 5,307 teachers.
The initiative, in partnership with Eveminet Communication Solutions, provides in-person workshops nationwide on responsible online engagement.
By 2025, TikTok aims to expand #SaferTogether to 42 counties, furthering its role as a leader in digital safety education.
TikTok is also expanding its Global Youth Council in 2025, nearly doubling its size to 28 members from 15 countries.
New representatives from Nigeria, Cameroon, Canada, Qatar, and Australia have joined, alongside returning members from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the UK, and the US.
The Youth Council helps shape TikTok’s policies on safety, well-being, and inclusivity, ensuring the platform evolves with young users’ needs.
To further protect young users, TikTok is investing in advanced age verification technologies, including:
- Machine Learning for Age Verification – Automatically detects inaccurate age entries and removes non-compliant accounts.
- Mobile Service Provider-Based Verification – In collaboration with Telefónica, TikTok is exploring enhanced authentication measures.
- Industry Collaboration – TikTok is working with WeProtect Global Alliance and Centre for Information Policy Leadership to establish best practices for age verification.
