TikTok is rolling out updates for its teenage users, with new options like choosing who can view videos and restricting when younger users receive notifications.
In a blog post on Thursday, TikTok described several features of the social platform, which is aimed at users between the ages of 13 and 17.
They include new default direct message settings so that no one can send private messages unless the sharing options are updated.
The updates also include new prompts that pop up when a younger user wants to share a video, asking who they want to allow to view and whether they want other people to download their post.
TikTok also sets limits on when teen users will receive notifications. Accounts for users aged 13-15 will not see push notifications after 9:00 p.m., and users aged 16-17 will not see notifications after 10:00 p.m.
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“These changes continue to build on our ongoing commitments as there is no finish line when it comes to protecting the safety, privacy and well-being of our community,” said Alexandra Evans, TikTok’s Head of Child Safety Public Policy and Aruna Sharma, global data protection officer in a joint statement.
The changes come as TikTok, which has grown in popularity with younger smartphone owners, continues to grow in popularity. Research firm App Annie found that TikTok was the most downloaded app of 2020 in both the US and around the world.
TikTok isn’t the only app that recently updated their platform to keep their younger users safe. Last month, Instagram introduced updates to provide more privacy for teenagers, including default accounts for those under the age of 16 to private, making it harder for potentially suspicious accounts to find teen users.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @ brettmolina23.
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