TikTok has enhanced its Family Pairing feature to address growing concerns about the digital well-being and online safety of teens. These updates provide parents with more options to control and tailor their teens' accounts, helping them to develop balanced digital habits.
Introduced in 2020, the Family Pairing feature allows parents and guardians to link their TikTok account to their teen's. Parents can then customize safety settings according to their preferences. This set of parental controls is designed to help parents and guardians effectively manage their teens' TikTok experience.
Family Pairing includes features such as Screen Time Management, Content and Privacy Controls, among others. These tools are designed to promote healthy digital habits, improve communication between parents and teens, and protect young users from inappropriate content. These features also enable parents to stay connected to their teens' online world without being overbearing, creating a safer and more balanced digital environment for teens.
Since its launch, Tiktok has continuously added new features to Family Pairing. This year's update includes the following enhancements:
1. Time Away Feature - Parents and guardians can use this feature to set screen-free periods, such as during school hours, dinner time, or family gatherings. TikTok understands that sometimes plans can change, so teens have the option to request extra time; however, parents have the final say.
2. Visibility on Followers - This feature fosters open discussions about online interactions. It allows parents to see who their child follows and who follows them. Parents can also view accounts their child has blocked.
3. Report Alerts - Teens can notify their parent, caregiver or a trusted adult if they think a video violates TikTok's guidelines. Teens can also notify another trusted adult even if they are not using the Family Pairing feature.
4. Wind Down Feature - TikTok now includes full-screen reminders with accompanied by calming music to remind teens that it is time to switch off at night. This feature helps teens relax and be mindful of the time, encouraging them, especially those under 16 years of age, to log off if they are still on TikTok after 10 PM.
5. STEM Feed - Available in over 100 countries, this feature can now be viewed and adjusted by parents if their teens have turned it off. It is a dedicated feed for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics designed to promote educational engagement.
These updates to TikTok's Family Pairing feature provide valuable benefits for parents, enabling them to monitor and manage their teens' content consumption and social interactions. By offering tools to protect teens from inappropriate content, the feature gives parents peace of mind.
Additionally, parents can use these updates to help their teens develop better screen time habits, reducing the risk of overexposure. These features also encourage meaningful conversations between parents and teens about online safety, digital boundaries, and other important topics, fostering trust and understanding.