TikTok announced on Wednesday that in the coming weeks, every account held by a user under the age of 18 will have a default 60-minute daily screen time limit.
The modifications come at a time when several governments are concerned about the app’s security and capacity to change its algorithm to push specific messages.
Imposed Limitation
The upgrade also reflects gambling regulations enforced on minors in China, where TikTok’s parent firm ByteDance was previously headquartered.
ByteDance now claims that it has no headquarters because it is a global company and that it is managed by leaders in Singapore, New York, and other locations. In an effort to combat internet addiction, Chinese officials introduced new restrictions in 2021 allowing kids to play online games for only one hour per day and only on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.
Teens will have the option to opt out of the function, but TikTok stated that the app will encourage them to establish a restriction if they spend “more than 100 minutes on TikTok in a day.”
TikTok is limiting screen time for its younger users as it faces more scrutiny from regulators and politicians over its security and the safety of children on the platform. According to a Pew Research Center report published in August, 67% of American teenagers use TikTok, with 16% of all teens using it “constantly.”
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TikTok Is Under Investigation
Later this month, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew will appear before the House Energy and Commerce committee. The US division of China-based ByteDance is currently the subject of a national security investigation and is also under increased scrutiny as a result of a series of scandals, including allegations that staff members spied on journalists and accessed the data of US users.
The business is also introducing the option to muffle notifications on a predetermined timetable. According to the business, users between the ages of 13 and 17 currently have varied degrees of access to this tool.
The majority of TikTok’s capabilities are in-app versions of functionality already available to iOS and Android users.
Using its Focus mode and Screen Time features, Apple’s iOS enables users to set limitations on app usage and schedule notification activity. On Google’s Android operating system, users may manage app activity through the Digital Wellbeing menu.
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