TikTok debuts affirmation journal, soothing sounds
In a bid to enhance user experience and promote mental well-being, TikTok has introduced a suite of new features designed to support users in setting intentions and practicing mindfulness. These well-being tools include an “affirmation” journal that provides 120 downloadable or shareable affirmation cards, such as the empowering message, “I am free from the expectations of others and embrace my true self.” Additionally, TikTok has added exercises for mindful breathing and a soothing sound generator that plays calming sounds like rain, waves, and white noise. These initiatives are particularly aimed at improving the platform’s safety and mental health environment for teens, a demographic that has faced scrutiny over the addictive nature of social media.
This move comes in the wake of significant legal challenges faced by TikTok, with over a dozen states suing the platform last year due to concerns about its addictive algorithm and its impact on teen mental health. Internal documents released last October revealed that TikTok prioritized its public image over effective measures to address these concerns. In response, TikTok has previously launched a meditation feature aimed at teens, which automatically activates at 10 p.m. This feature has reportedly attracted tens of millions of users, highlighting a growing interest in mindfulness practices among its audience.
In addition to the affirmation journal and meditation features, TikTok is rolling out task-based activities called “well-being missions.” These missions encourage users to optimize their sleep and screen time, such as an eight-week “sleep hours mission” where participants can earn badges for abstaining from the app at night or meditating. Users can also engage in a weekly screen time mission that prompts them to review their usage statistics. The new features are housed within the app’s redesigned time and well-being space, which has reportedly seen increased user engagement compared to the previous screen time management page. TikTok’s commitment to fostering a healthier online environment marks a notable shift towards addressing the mental health challenges associated with social media use, especially among younger audiences.
Ready to start the day with intention or wind down for the evening?
TikTok
wants to be your go-to platform, no matter the time of day.
The video platform just announced
new well-being features
, including an “affirmation” journal for
intention-setting
, exercises for
mindful breathing
, and “soothing” sound generator that plays rain, waves, and white noise. The journal has 120 downloadable or shareable affirmation cards. One card reads, “I am free from the expectations of others and embrace my true self.”
TikTok says the tools are meant to improve safety and well-being on the platform, particularly for teens.
Last year,
more than a dozen states sued TikTok
for its allegedly addictive algorithm.
Internal documents made public
last October showed TikTok fostered an environment that arguably prioritized its public image over effective policies to address teen mental health.
SEE ALSO:
The content creators with the most TikTok followers – see the top 10.
Earlier this year,
TikTok launched
a
meditation feature for teens
that turns on by default at 10 p.m. In a
blog post
about the newest features, TikTok said that tens of millions of people have meditated using the tool after it was made available to all users.
In addition to the features, TikTok is introducing task-based activities called “well-being missions” related to optimizing sleep and screen time. Users participating in an eight week “sleep hours mission” can earn a badge when they abstain from the app at night or meditate during that time period. Completing tasks help them grow an in-app “well-being tree.” A separate weekly screen time mission nudges people to check their usage stats.
The new features are available in the app’s time and well-being space, which is accessible from the account settings page. The hub replaces TikTok’s previous screen time management page.
TikTok said early testing results show that the latest features make its time and well-being space more attractive to users, who are returning more often than they did to the old menu.
Additional reporting by Chase DiBenedetto
