TikTok Launches Time and Wellbeing Section

TikTok launched a new Time and Wellbeing section in its app this week, replacing the previous screen time management page with tools designed to promote healthier digital habits, particularly among teenagers. The update introduces features such as an affirmation journal, a sound generator for calming audio, breathing exercises, and a rewards system for balanced usage, as the company seeks to address concerns over the platform's impact on young users' mental health.

The affirmation journal offers more than 120 positive prompts to help users set daily intentions, with options to download cards and share them on social media. The sound generator provides ambient noises like rain, ocean waves, and white noise to encourage relaxation, and users can set timers for sleep. Breathing exercises and content from creators discussing screen time limits, parental controls, and feed customization round out the new space. TikTok reported that during early testing, visits to this wellbeing hub increased compared to the old screen time menu, with the journal emerging as the most popular element.

To further incentivize positive behavior, TikTok added wellbeing missions that award badges upon...