TikTok will now give you badges for limiting your doomscrolling

In a bid to enhance user mental health, TikTok is unveiling a suite of digital well-being features, including an affirmation journal and a soothing sound generator. The social media platform aims to promote healthier habits among its users by introducing badges that recognize responsible app usage. To improve its screen time management interface, TikTok is adding various tools designed to support positive mental health. Among these is an affirmation journal filled with over 120 uplifting prompts, allowing users to set daily intentions. Additionally, a sound generator will provide calming audio options, such as the sounds of rain and ocean waves, alongside a module dedicated to breathing exercises. The redesigned screen time management page will also showcase content from creators focused on screen time moderation, parental controls, and feed customization. A notable feature is the introduction of badges that reward users, particularly teenagers, for adhering to their usage limits. TikTok's research into digital well-being indicated that overly strict tools could negatively impact younger users, leading to this balanced approach. Users can earn badges by completing specific missions. For instance, avoiding app usage at night qualifies them for a sleep hours badge, while using the new meditation tools also earns recognition. Furthermore, those who establish a daily screen time limit and stick to it will receive badges, along with rewards for checking their weekly screen time report and inviting others to participate in these missions. Early testing of these features revealed a significant increase in visits to the new well-being screen compared to its predecessor, with the affirmation journal emerging as a particularly favored tool. TikTok plans to prompt users with a link to these mental health resources during nighttime usage or when they reach their daily screen time cap. This initiative follows TikTok's July rollout of enhanced parental controls, which allow guardians to block specific accounts and receive alerts when teens post public content. In recent months, various tech companies—including Meta, YouTube, OpenAI, and Discord—have also implemented new safety measures aimed at bolstering the protection of teenagers online.