TIKTOK INTRODUCES MANDATORY GUIDED MEDITATION FOR TEENS TO BOOST MENTAL WELLBEING

TECHNOLOGY • TikTok is rolling out a new "Meditation in sleep hours" feature, set to be enabled by default for all users under 18. This guided meditation exercise aims to improve adolescents' sleep quality and combat screen addiction, appearing full-screen when teens attempt to scroll through the app after 10 PM.

Beijing, May 16, 2025 – 11:26 AM – TikTok is launching a mandatory guided meditation feature for minors after 10 PM, an effort to combat screen addiction and enhance the digital wellbeing of adolescents and families. Already available experimentally to a limited group of users, the "Meditation in sleep hours" function will be activated by default for all users under 18. Teenagers will see a full-screen "guided meditation exercise" when they try to scroll through the app after 10 PM. The feature will also be available for adult users, though they will need to enable it manually in their settings.

The App's Commentary

"Research shows that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality," a TikTok statement explains. "If a teenager decides to use the app after 10 PM, their 'For You' feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise, helping them relax for the night. If they decide to spend more time on TikTok after the first reminder, we will show a second, full-screen message that is harder to ignore."

The Platform's Future

The app's fate in the United States remains uncertain, after President Trump extended the deadline for a deal concerning the Chinese ByteDance-owned platform by another 75 days in early April.