TikTok’s new parental controls: Game-changer or quick fix?

Updated March 18, 2025, 8:39 a.m. | By East Coast Breakfast / Skyye Ndlovu

TikTok is rolling out new parental controls to help parents manage screen time, monitor content, and create a safer digital space for teens.

Getting teens to put down their phones is a battle most parents lose before it even starts.

Scrolling through TikTok has become a daily ritual, and before you know it, “a quick five minutes” turns into an all-nighter.

Now, TikTok is stepping up its game with new parental controls and well-being tools designed to help families manage screen time and keep an eye on what their teens are watching.

ALSO READ: Hilton vs Westville: Jack Russell 1, rugby players 0!

More control, less scrolling

One of the biggest updates? Time Away – a feature that allows parents to schedule screen-free periods, whether it’s during school hours, bedtime, or family time.

Teens can ask for extra screen time (because, of course, they will), but parents hold the final say.

Adam Presser, TikTok’s head of operations, trust and safety, puts it simply: “No teen or family is the same. Whether it’s during family time or a weekend away, caregivers can tailor breaks to suit their lifestyle.”

In other words, no more scrolling through dance videos when they should be doing homework.

Who’s in their circle?

Ever wonder who your teen is chatting with online? TikTok now gives parents a look at their teen’s followers, followings, and blocked accounts.

This extra transparency is meant to spark conversations about online safety. Although, we know some tech-savvy teens will find a way around it by making secret accounts.

There’s also a new feature in the works: Trusted Alerts. If a teen reports inappropriate content, they’ll soon have the option to notify a trusted adult, even if they haven’t enabled Family Pairing.

It’s a nice touch, but experts worry that teens might not always use it when they should.

No more late-night scrolling

For users under 16, TikTok is rolling out Wind-Down Mode, which interrupts late-night scrolling with calming music and reminders to log off after 10 pm.

Sounds great in theory, but if we’re being real, most teens will probably just swipe past it.

TikTok is even testing meditation exercises to help, but some critics argue that it’s a band-aid solution for a much bigger problem: addictive algorithms.

Entertainment meets education?

Not all updates are about restrictions. Some are about redirection. TikTok’s STEM feed (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is now available in over 100 countries, offering educational content to millions.

While it’s not exactly a safety tool, it’s a clever way to shift teens’ focus from endless scrolling to learning something new.

ALSO READ: Amapiano: South Africa's gift to the world

TikTok is also working with global safety organisations like the WeProtect Global Alliance to improve age verification.

In South Africa, where many teens rely on public Wi-Fi or shared devices, proper age checks could make a big difference.

Then there’s the Global Youth Council, which has now expanded to 28 members from 15 countries (including Nigeria and Cameroon). These young voices help shape TikTok’s policies, though South Africa doesn’t have a rep as yet.

Game-changer or quick fix?

Are these new features a step in the right direction? Absolutely.

Will they magically solve screen addiction? Probably not.

Experts like Dr Vicki Harrison praise the updates, saying, “Prioritising sleep and balanced usage supports wellbeing.”

Others, like digital safety expert Titania Jordan, call features like Wind-Down Mode “superficial”, arguing that teens aren’t about to swap binge-watching for bedtime meditation.

At the end of the day, no app can replace open conversations and healthy digital habits. TikTok’s new tools give parents a starting point, but it’s up to families to make them work.