ELA project|Victoria Trushkova|Period 6

TikTok's new screen time for teens and kids.

By: Victoria Trushkova, Period 6

Multiple Choice

Has screen time increased for kids and teens (in the U.S.) during the COVID-19 pandemic?

• Yes, screen time has been increasing by 90% over the past few years.

• No, screen time has stayed the same for kids and teens.

• Yes, screen time usage for kids and teens had increased during the COVID-19 Pandemic by 52%.

• No, screen time has actually decreased because kids and teens don't like devices.

​Child and teen screen time has increased.

From analyzing multiple studies, JAMA Network has found that screen time has risen by an impressive fifty-two percent (52%) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This percentage is specifically showing screen time increases among teens and kids.

Multiple Choice

How many teens in the U.S. use TikTok (as of 2022)?

• One-half (1/2).

• Close to two-thirds (≈2/3).

• One-fifth (1/5).

• Less than three-quarters (<3/4).

TikTok is quite popular in the U.S.!

​About two-thirds of teens use TikTok.

According to a 2022 Pew survey, sixty-seven percent (67%) of teens report that they have used TikTok in 2022. Sixteen percent (16%) of those teens also claim that they are persistently on the app.

Multiple Choice

How long was the daily average time on TikTok by teens in 2021?

• 60 minutes (1 hour).

• 152 minutes (2 hours and 32 minutes).

• 91 minutes (1 hour and 31 minutes).

• 40 minutes.

​TikTok screen time from teen and child users has been growing.

TechCrunch has found that, by the end of 2021, teens and kids have been spending an average of ninety-one (91) minutes on TikTok. This is more than in 2020 when the average was eighty-two (82) minutes.

Multiple Choice

Has TikTok done anything to help lower teen and child users' screen time?

• No, TikTok has stayed the same.

• Yes, TikTok has added a screen time for teen and child users.

• Yes, TikTok has blocked the app for all users under eighteen.

• Yes, TikTok allows users under eighteen to be on the only app on weekends.

Multiple Choice

How did TikTok decide on a "healthy" screen time for teens and kids?

• TikTok guessed what an appropriate number to spend on the app would be.

• TikTok surveyed their users on the time they think they should have.

• TikTok asked experts at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital.

• TikTok surveyed parents on how long they think teens and kids should spend on the app.

TikTok asked experts at the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children's Hospital, according to The Verge.

​How was the limit decided on?

The Verge has reported that TikTok users under eighteen will have a screen time limit. But, the strictness of the limit will differ between users under thirteen and those above.

Does the limit differer between ages?

TikTok has added a screen time limit for teens and kids.

Multiple Choice

TikTok made the daily screen time limit for children and teens be...

• 60 minutes.

• 30 minutes.

• 20 minutes.

• 90 minutes (1 hour and 30 minutes).

Multiple Choice

TikTok screen time isn't guaranteed to shorten a teen's time on the app because...

• Teens can give themselves more screen time by entering their screen time pass code.

• Teens can get more time after waiting a few minutes.

• Teens can easily hack the screen time system.

• Teens 13-18 can get more screen time if they spend money for more time.

Thirteen to eighteen-year-olds have control over their screen time!

Only children under thirteen will need a parent to enter the screen time passcode.

According to Newsela's article on the situation, teens will have to, "make an 'active decision' to keep watching" when their sixty (60) minutes are over. This can make some people wonder, what control do parents have with TikTok's new update?

Multiple Choice

Parents can turn on "Restricted Mode".

• False

• True

Multiple Choice

Parents can also...

• Mute push notifications from TikTok.

• Get notified when their child is on the app.

• See their child's search and watch history.

Multiple Choice

Parents will also get...

• An option to choose a selection of videos for their child to watch.

• An option to send a message to their child when on TikTok.

• A summery of how long their child is on TikTok.

• The ability to comment as their child.

TikTok will give parents multiple options

With TikTok's Family Paring, parents have more control than before. Parents will be able to turn on restricted mode for the child. They will also have to option to mute notifications for a certain time. In addition, parents will have a four-week summary of how long their child was on the app. More information about Family Paring can be found on TikTok's website.