TikTok has announced a new update aimed at enhancing mental health for its users, particularly teenagers who frequently access the platform late at night. The app’s meditation tab, which serves as your home base for meditating, just introduced a new “Guided Meditation” experience. Available after 10 p.m., the app motivates users to build mindfulness practices into their nightly routines. This new initiative is just one of TikTok’s strategies to help young people develop better sleep habits.
The social media giant has been lauded for taking the first steps to address the sleep deprivation and mental health crisis teenagers are facing. TikTok engages users on the platform late at night—particularly those using TikTok after 10 p.m. They seek to inspire meaningful, positive lifestyle changes by providing tools and materials that promote healthier habits at night. This latest development is another example of TikTok’s commitment to creating a safer community online. It deeply cares about the mental health of its younger users.
Enhancing the Wind Down Experience
In 2018, TikTok rolled out a “Wind Down” nudge. This feature makes it easy to send a soft nudge to your teens encouraging them to begin winding down. This mental health feature not only invites users to disconnect from social media but motivates them to prioritize their mental health. The “Guided Meditation” experience builds on this prompt by providing a step-by-step process to help users relax. It gives them time to relax and process before going to sleep.
The guided cohorts are tailored specifically for adolescents and their specific needs and challenges. Through relaxing ASMR soundscapes and peaceful revonivac visual experiences, TikTok is working towards building the perfect space to unwind. By integrating these meditative practices into the platform, TikTok hopes to alleviate some of the stress that comes with daily life.
Promoting Healthy Sleep Habits
Along with the meditation feature, TikTok is introducing sleep disruptions that guide teen users to more restorative sleep. These interruptions are intentionally timed within the app to encourage users not to scroll so close to bedtime. Together, by normalizing these healthier habits, TikTok aims to help foster a culture where mental health comes first.
The move follows increasing advocacy for social media regulation in light of the negative effects social media has on youth mental health. Research has consistently shown that too much screen time—especially right before bed—impacts sleep quality. By encouraging teens to engage in mindfulness practices and set boundaries around their screen time, TikTok is taking significant steps toward supporting its younger users.
Looking Ahead
TikTok is transforming its platform to better protect and serve its community. The introduction of guided meditation and the emphasis on sleep hygiene are the latest examples of how the platform is trying to connect with its audience in new ways. The platform puts an emphasis on mental health and wellness. This is emblematic of a larger trend among social media companies to be more accountable for the dubious ways their platforms have intentionally warped user behavior.
