TikTok is taking a new approach to promoting healthier digital habits among teens with the official launch of its late-night wellness feature, TikTok Wind Down. After testing it with a small group of users, the company is now rolling it out globally — and by default — for all users under the age of 18.
TikTok Wind Down: A Digital Nudge Toward Better Sleep
Under the newly implemented “TikTok Wind Down” system, teens attempting to scroll through their feeds after 10PM will be met with a full-screen guided meditation exercise; this isn’t just a gentle suggestion — while users can technically dismiss the first prompt, doing so triggers a second, more difficult-to-ignore screen. TikTok hopes this layered approach will encourage young users to prioritize rest over endless scrolling.
The initiative is built on the platform’s earlier experiments with a “Sleep Hours” feature, which reportedly received strong engagement — with 98% of teen users choosing to leave the setting enabled. However, TikTok’s previous attempts to impose time limits haven’t always succeeded. Internal documents from a lawsuit revealed that teens often exceeded daily screen time limits, spending an average of 107 minutes on the app even when a 60-minute cap was applied.
A Step Toward Safety
Beyond digital wellness, TikTok has been under increasing pressure to address safety concerns and potential overuse among younger audiences. The company has enhanced its parental control options in recent months and is now doubling down on features that actively steer users toward healthier screen habits.
Adult users will also have access to the meditation feature, though it won’t be activated by default. Instead, it will be available through the app’s existing screen time settings, offering more flexibility for older audiences.
As TikTok continues to face uncertainty in the U.S. Despite receiving a deadline extension from President Trump, the company’s long-term future in the country remains unresolved as negotiations over a possible sale are ongoing. The tech platforms are increasingly held accountable for their impact on mental health, TikTok’s Wind Down initiative represents a proactive — and perhaps much-needed — step in a more mindful direction.
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