Sealedxa0TikTokxa0courtxa0documents showxa0time limit tool effectively did nothing to reduce teen usage, NPR reports

A screen-time limit tool on TikTok reportedly does not effectively limit teen usage, as revealed by internal documents. The documents highlight TikTok executives acknowledging various risks for children using the app. Concerns arise around teenagers spending extended hours on TikTok, potentially harming their mental health. Despite public scrutiny, TikTok measured the tool’s usefulness more by its ability to enhance public trust than reduce app usage.

According to the documents, a TikTok project manager stated that reducing time spent was not the goal. Another employee noted the aim was to increase daily active users and retention. The tool reportedly decreased daily usage by only 1.5 minutes, yet the company did not attempt improvements. Videos promoting breaks are deemed ineffective but useful for discussions with lawmakers.

In response, a TikTok spokesperson defended the company's efforts, mentioning robust safeguards and safety features for minors. A group of attorneys general recently filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging the platform has addicted young users and affected their mental health. The lawsuits point to the endlessly scrolling feed, risky 'challenge' videos, and disruptive notifications as concerns.

TikTok disputes these claims, emphasizing their commitment to teen protection and ongoing product improvements.