TikTok offers an age-old remedy for children addicted to screens at nighttime.

      TikTok has been at the center of controversy for trapping children in a cycle of digital addiction, affecting their sleep and exposing them to harmful content. The company has had to address these issues in Senate hearings multiple times.

      Now, the struggling short video platform has turned to a rather traditional solution to address usage concerns among children and teenagers. Today, TikTok has launched guided meditations, along with prompts for winding down. These exercises will be accessible to all users but will be automatically activated for anyone under 18.

      How does it function?

      “For users under 18, it will be activated by default. If a teenager opts to use TikTok after 10 PM, their For You feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise, aiding them in winding down for the night,” the company states.

      If a user dismisses the initial wind-down prompt, they will soon receive a second, more difficult-to-ignore message that takes up the entire screen. Just over a month ago, TikTok implemented a nudge system that urged teenagers to close the app after 10 PM. The wind-down system also included calming music.

      TikTok

      According to TikTok's research, the majority of young users (98%) kept the guided meditation feature activated. Adult users can also enable this new guided meditation option through the app’s Screen Time settings.

      Meditation and breathing exercises are increasingly incorporated into wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness bands. By monitoring stress patterns through biomarkers, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 assist users with breathing exercises. Furthermore, web browsers like Opera have adopted similar strategies to encourage users to take breaks and practice mindfulness.

      Can it truly make a difference?

      Numerous studies highlight the negative health effects of screens in the bedroom and how they diminish our valuable sleep time. In contrast, even minor changes in nighttime phone usage can have significant benefits.

      Just over a month ago, research published in the JAMA Journal indicated that screen use in bed negatively impacts sleep patterns across all age demographics. The largest study of its kind found that these users have a 33% higher prevalence of poor sleep quality.

      Netflix

      Shortly after, another study in the Frontiers in Psychiatry journal found that looking at a screen in bed increases insomnia risk by 59% among adolescents and young adults. Each additional hour of screen time raises the risk by 63% and typically reduces sleep time by about 24 minutes each day.

      Studies on meditation and behavioral modifications suggest that establishing a routine to limit night-time digital habits and engaging in meditation can provide numerous benefits, such as soothing the mind and improving sleep quality.

      The latest TikTok feature appears to be a positive step, especially since it is one of the largest social media platforms in the US, with a substantial teenage user base. To enhance these efforts, TikTok is also collaborating with health professionals and investing more resources into its digital health initiatives.