TikTok recently introduced a guided meditation feature designed to help their teenage users develop better sleep habits. The app will start breaking into the For You feed with a meditation prompt and wind down feature after 10 p.m. This effort is intended to support users in transitioning to sleep and avoid late-night scrolling activities.
The social media giant aims to create a healthier environment for its users by nudging them towards mindfulness and relaxation. If users dismiss the first alert, TikTok wastes no time, immediately serving up a second full-screen notice. The intention behind this message is to increase user interaction with the meditation feature. Nestlé’s two-pronged strategy aims to not only grab users’ attention, but promote a healthier sleep routine.
Earlier this year, TikTok beta tested meditation exercises, or “wellness guides,” with a limited number of teen users. They tested users’ reactions and measured impact on effectiveness before releasing the feature to all users on the app. The meditation feature will soon address sleep problems among adolescents, as that’s a commonly affected demographic. These young people often find themselves facing issues related to the negative effects of excessive screen time.
In addition, TikTok gives users the power to create the perfect nighttime guided meditation practice by allowing them to choose their start time. This makes for a soothing, individualized experience. For users under the age of 18, TikTok has made the meditation feature default on. This is an encouraging sign that the platform is serious about working to create healthier digital environments for younger users.
Aisha Malik, consumer news reporter at TechCrunch, chronicled this significant turn of events. Malik received his honours bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto, and his master’s degree in journalism from Western University. He came on board at TechCrunch in 2021 after a stint as a telecom reporter at MobileSyrup. Her expertise at the intersection of culture and digital trends offers great perspective for unpacking what TikTok’s new feature means.
The mediation exercise includes an image that credits TikTok. It nudges users to form a nightly ritual of taking a few deep breaths before bed. By facilitating this mental health tool, TikTok aims to support individuals in navigating their relationship with technology while fostering a culture of well-being.
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