TikTok just launched an incredible new sleep feature to help you get better rest. It guides users to leave their devices, helping to prevent late-night scroll marathons. This new effort comes as social media’s negative impact on sleep patterns has become a particularly urgent topic. It especially engages younger audiences that are most affected. The company has implemented guided meditation exercises that will automatically activate for users under the age of 18 after 10 p.m., promoting healthier sleep habits.
TikTok started testing this meditation feature earlier this year with a small group of teens, but it’s now rolling out to everyone. For teens, meditation comes to life instantly. Each individual user gets to choose the best time for them to participate in the guided exercise each evening. Now, if a teen opens TikTok after 10 p.m., they will be met with a meditation prompt. Consider this prompt as a way to help them settle down for the evening.
This decision is a testament to TikTok’s pledge to create a safer online space. By encouraging users to make sleep a priority, the Sleep app seeks to reduce the potentially harmful consequences of too much screen time. If teens dismiss the first meditation prompt and continue scrolling, they’ll receive a second full-screen nudge. This reminder will double down on their desire to avoid falling asleep.
Aisha Malik, a consumer technology reporter at TechCrunch, underscored the importance of this policy in making the announcement. Malik has an honours bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a master’s degree in journalism from Western University. Prior to joining TechCrunch in 2021, he was a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup.
This meditation feature is a great way to touch on that conversation. It paints a picture of social media platforms’ duty to prioritize user well-being. By addressing the issue of sleep deprivation, TikTok positions itself not only as an entertainment platform but as a tool for self-care and mental health improvement.