TikTok is taking a cautious step to protect younger users by introducing a daily screen time limit for teens. The platform has announced that in the near future every account held by someone under 18 will automatically be capped at 60 minutes of in-app usage per day. Once this limit is reached, the system will prompt the user to enter a password to continue, a measure designed to encourage reflection and responsible usage rather than pushing for continuous viewing. For users under 13, the policy will allow a small extension of 30 minutes of video viewing beyond the initial limit, but only if a parent or guardian successfully enters a password. This creates a controlled balance between encouraging healthy habits and allowing a managed, optional extension when supervision is available. The goal is to foster safer digital habits among younger audiences while preserving access under parental oversight. A clear message from Border is that these changes aim to give families more predictable and manageable online experiences while respecting the varying needs of households across North America.
As part of the broader Family Settings initiative, TikTok will introduce additional features that empower parents and guardians to tailor limits to their family’s routines. Users underage will have the possibility to have their daily limit adjusted by a parent or guardian, and it will be feasible to set different limits for different days of the week—reflecting real-life schedules, school days, weekends, and special events. This flexibility ensures that both weekday study times and weekend leisure are considered in the overall allowance of screen time. Parents will also retain the option to manage notifications, turning them off for teens during planned periods when focus or rest is prioritized. The current design already restricts late-evening interruptions for certain age brackets: from 9 p.m. for ages 13 to 15, and from 10 p.m. for ages 16 to 17. These time windows are practical steps to reduce nighttime usage, helping teens wind down and creating a healthier digital rhythm at home. The intention behind these settings is to integrate digital wellbeing into everyday family life rather than isolating teenagers from their devices entirely.
In addition to time controls, TikTok will provide weekly reports that summarize how much time a teen spends on the app. These reports are meant to offer visibility into usage patterns and to spark constructive conversations between young users and their guardians about healthy digital habits. Rather than merely tallying minutes, these reports can highlight peak activity periods, preferred content types, and potential opportunities to substitute screen time with other enriching activities. The feature aligns with growing global expectations that families should have accessible, transparent insight into how digital platforms are used and how to foster balanced tech engagement. The company emphasizes that the proposed tools are intended to support parents and guardians in Canada and the United States, with the aim of creating consistent, family-centered approaches to screen time across households.
According to TikTok, the rollout of these innovations is planned for the near term and will be extended to all users as the system is refined and tested. The approach signals a shift toward more deliberate, user-informed controls rather than a one-size-fits-all policy. By prioritizing family settings and time-based restrictions, TikTok positions itself as a platform that respects user wellbeing while still offering a pathway to meaningful digital expression for younger creators. Observers note that this strategy mirrors broader industry trends toward responsible design and greater parental involvement in online experiences, a response to concerns about youth engagement with social media and its potential effects on sleep, attention, and mental health.
Additionally, a note from Border mentions a separate piece of industry chatter referencing future features and corporate moves in the social media landscape. The report touches on the evolving landscape of digital platforms and the ways in which different services attempt to respond to user needs and regulatory considerations. While the specifics vary by platform, the overarching theme remains: families want more control, safety, and clarity about how time is spent online, and tech companies are increasingly embracing tools that enable responsible usage and proactive conversations at home.