TikTok launches new safety features for teens and creators

Automatic notifications to parents when a teen posts a video, story, or photo visible to others on TikTok; greater visibility into kids' privacy settings; and a new feature that prompts them to complete actions designed for user well-being. These are some of the new features TikTok has implemented to increase the platform's safety, announced by Adam Presser, the company's Head of Operations and Trust & Safety. Regarding the last feature, focused on well-being, TikTok offers a series of activities designed "to help people develop balanced digital habits over time." "As users complete activities," the company states in a statement, "they earn badges that encourage and reinforce mindful behavior." The features, the platform emphasizes, "improve the experience for teens and families discovering and learning on TikTok, for creators, and for everyone who connects with the content they love on our platform."

In addition to the 50 different features and settings integrated into teen accounts to ensure their safety, TikTok announces that the platform offers a Family Connection feature, which allows parents and guardians to customize their teen's account based on their specific needs. Upcoming additions will enhance this feature not only by notifying parents when their teen son or daughter posts a video or story, but also by allowing families, for example, to see whether their child (aged 16 or 17) has enabled downloads of their content or whether their follower list is visible to other users. Furthermore, TikTok explains, parents will have access to the topics selected in the "Manage Topics" feature, which teens use to personalize their feed.

The app is also launching new features to help content creators "feel more protected." These, TikTok explains, include a "support" mode that allows creators to better filter offensive and unwanted comments, and a new live feature that lets creators bulk mute words, phrases, and emojis during live broadcasts. Furthermore, there are more content controls within TikTok Studio, allowing content creators to check whether their content is not eligible for the "For You" section before publishing their video. Finally, the platform is launching a new professional inbox experience designed to help creators manage messages more efficiently.