Social media platforms are increasingly focusing on user well-being and accessibility, with TikTok being the latest to introduce significant updates in these areas. The popular video-sharing app has announced a series of new features aimed at improving accessibility for all users while also helping younger users develop healthier digital habits.
Enhanced Accessibility Options
TikTok is expanding its commitment to accessibility with three new features designed to make the platform more inclusive. The most notable addition is AI-powered alternative text, which automatically generates descriptions of content for users who are blind or have low vision. This builds upon TikTok's existing manual alt text feature, ensuring that even when creators don't add descriptions themselves, visual content remains accessible through screen readers.
The platform has also introduced a high-contrast mode that increases the visibility of text, icons, and other app elements by enhancing the distinction between foreground elements and backgrounds. This feature, which can be enabled under Accessibility > Appearance settings, joins TikTok's existing text size adjustment option to improve readability for users with visual impairments.
Additionally, TikTok now supports device-level bold text settings, automatically displaying all in-app text in bold when this accessibility feature is enabled on the user's device. iOS users can activate this through Settings > Display & Brightness, while Android users can find it under Settings > Accessibility > Display size and text > Bold text.
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| A calming meditation app interface designed to improve user well-being and accessibility |
Bedtime Features for Better Digital Habits
In a surprising move that addresses growing concerns about screen time, TikTok has introduced Meditation in Sleep Hours, a feature designed to help users—particularly teenagers—curb late-night scrolling. When users are active on the platform after 10 p.m., their feed will be interrupted by a guided meditation exercise featuring calming music and breathing exercises.
What makes this feature particularly interesting is that it's enabled by default for users under 18, while adult users need to opt in. According to TikTok's early testing, an impressive 98% of teens kept the feature enabled, suggesting it strikes a balance between being helpful without being overly intrusive.
If users continue scrolling after the initial meditation prompt, TikTok displays a more persistent full-screen reminder, making it harder to ignore the nudge toward better sleep habits. Research has shown that meditation exercises can improve sleep quality, reduce stress, and enhance overall mood, making this a potentially valuable tool for promoting digital well-being.
Enhanced Parental Controls
Complementing these wellness features, TikTok has strengthened its parental control options. Parents can now set specific hours during which teens cannot access the app, either on a recurring schedule or as needed for immediate breaks from screen time. While teens can request additional time through the app, parents maintain final decision-making authority.
The update also provides parents with greater visibility into their teens' social connections on the platform, allowing them to see which accounts their teen follows, who follows them, and which accounts have been blocked.
Building on Existing Features
These new additions complement TikTok's previously implemented accessibility features, which include options to remove photosensitive videos, add auto-generated captions, animate thumbnails, enable dark mode, and ensure compatibility with device-level screen readers.
As social media platforms face increasing scrutiny regarding their impact on mental health and accessibility, TikTok's latest updates represent a significant step toward creating a more inclusive platform while addressing concerns about excessive screen time, particularly among younger users.