TikTok will show teens guided meditation after 10PM

The Verge - May 15th, 2025
Open on The Verge

TikTok is set to introduce guided meditation prompts to all users under 18 as part of a new feature aimed at promoting healthier screen time habits. Previously, the app only offered calming music prompts to users under 16 to encourage taking breaks at nighttime. Now, this initiative is expanded to include meditation, and it will be available to adults who enable 'Sleep Hours' in settings. The app will first display a reminder at 10PM, followed by a more persistent prompt later in the evening.

This development comes amid growing scrutiny over TikTok's impact on user wellbeing and its ongoing challenges with US regulatory authorities. With a looming deadline of June 19th to divest its US operations or face a potential ban, TikTok is actively implementing measures to address safety concerns. The addition of the meditation feature follows the March introduction of a Time Away tool, which allows parents or caregivers to control app access times for their children. These efforts highlight TikTok's commitment to user safety and mental health, despite facing significant regulatory pressures.

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RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The story provides a clear and timely overview of TikTok's new feature aimed at promoting digital wellness among teens. It is factually accurate and aligns with information from other credible sources, although it lacks detailed source attribution and transparency regarding the methodology behind certain claims. The narrative is well-structured and readable, making it accessible to a broad audience. However, the article could benefit from a more balanced presentation by including diverse perspectives and a deeper exploration of potential criticisms or implications. Overall, it effectively highlights a topic of public interest but could enhance its impact and engagement by addressing these areas.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story presents several key factual claims that align well with the information available from other sources. The claim that TikTok will interrupt teens' feeds with guided meditation after 10 PM is supported by multiple reports, indicating the truthfulness and precision of this statement. Additionally, the expansion of the 'wind down' feature to include meditation for all users under 18 is corroborated by external sources. However, the story mentions a 98% engagement rate among users under 16, which, while reported, lacks detailed verification from primary sources. Overall, the story maintains a high level of accuracy but could benefit from more detailed source attribution for specific statistics.

7
Balance

The article presents a straightforward narrative focused on TikTok's new feature rollout, primarily from the perspective of the company and its potential benefits for users. It does not delve deeply into potential criticisms or alternative viewpoints, such as privacy concerns or the effectiveness of such features. While it mentions TikTok's regulatory challenges, it does not explore these in detail or provide perspectives from regulators or critics. This lack of diverse viewpoints suggests a moderate level of balance, with room for improvement by including a broader range of perspectives.

8
Clarity

The article is well-structured and uses clear, concise language, making it easy to understand. The sequence of information is logical, starting with the main claim about TikTok's new feature and then providing additional context about its development and related features. The tone is neutral, focusing on factual reporting without emotive language. This clarity in presentation aids in reader comprehension, although more detailed explanations of certain claims could enhance understanding.

6
Source quality

The story does not explicitly cite its sources, which limits the assessment of source quality. The information aligns with what is reported by credible outlets, suggesting that the story likely relies on reliable sources. However, the lack of direct attribution or links to primary sources or official statements from TikTok reduces the ability to fully evaluate the authority and reliability of the sources used. Providing clear citations or references would enhance the credibility of the article.

5
Transparency

The article lacks transparency regarding its sources and the methodology behind the claims, particularly the statistic about user engagement. There is no disclosure of how the information was obtained or any potential conflicts of interest. While the story is clear in its claims, the lack of detailed source attribution and explanation of the methodology behind the data presented limits transparency. Providing more context about how the information was gathered would improve this aspect.

Sources

  1. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-guided-meditation-sleep-prompts-mental-health-support/748308/
  2. https://www.techi.com/tiktok-sleep-feature-meditation-for-better-rest/
  3. https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/15/tiktok-rolls-out-a-new-meditation-feature-to-help-you-get-off-the-app-and-sleep/
  4. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHEiv1LP0Qv/
  5. https://dunyanews.tv/en/Technology/872828-tiktok-will-automatically-tell-teens-to-go-to-bed