TikTok offers feature that gives parents more control over their kids’ access

Parents concerned with their children’s TikTok obsession can perk up with the app’s new feature that lets them have more control over how many videos is too many.

The company announced the Family Safety Mode, which allows parents and guardians to link their TikTok account to their teens.” Once they’re connected, parents have the option to control how long their teen can spend on TikTok each day under the Screen Time Management feature.

Guardians have the option to limit who can send messages to the connected account or turn off direct messaging completely, as well as restrict the appearance of content that may not be appropriate for all audiences.

“We want people to have fun on TikTok, but it’s also important for our community to look after their wellbeing which means having a healthy relationship with online apps and services,” reads a TikTok blog post by Cormac Keenan, Head of Trust and Safety, EMEA.

For now, these features are available only in the U.K., but will begin to roll out to additional markets in the coming weeks, according to the blog post.

TikTok is aware of the growing concern over the amount of time teens are spending on the platform. The short-form video-sharing app partnered with several of its top creators to promote time offline.

The app also launched an educational video series called “You’re In Control,” aimed at educating younger generations about TikTok’s safety guidelines.