An in-app meditation feature, digital well-being ambassadors, more safety tools and the expansion of its $2.3m (R41m) global mental health fund are TikTok’s strongest signal yet that it’s taking mental health seriously.
At its inaugural Digital Well-being Summit in Johannesburg on Thursday TikTok executives, policymakers, mental health experts, NGOs and industry leaders across Sub-Saharan Africa met to discuss how the app, which reaches more than one billion users globally, is addressing online bullying, aimless scrolling, burnout and mental health challenges.
Delegates from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and beyond heard app helplines and an industry-first meditation feature for all TikTok users were among the solutions.
“We commend the private sector’s efforts to foster digital literacy and create a safer online environment. Such efforts reflect the government and private sector’s collective responsibility to inspire creativity, empower communities and connect young people to the digital world,” said basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube.
The guided meditation experience in Sleep Hours is automatically enabled at 10pm for all users under the age of 18. Anyone above the age can choose to turn it on. The feature, the first of its kind in the industry, was piloted in March and is available worldwide.
“People come to TikTok to learn, share their experiences and connect with communities around the world. That’s why we’re proud to introduce tools that not only support digital well-being, but also empower our community, specially young users, with a safe, supportive space to explore and navigate complex emotions,” said Valiant Richey, TikTok Global head.
