TikTok is encouraging users to slow down, breathe deeply and relax their minds. The app is rolling out a new guided meditation prompt that appears during typical sleeping hours, specifically targeting teens.
Late-night scrolls trigger meditation exercises
TikTok announced the feature Thursday, May 15, in a blog post, along with the expansion of its mental health education fund and wellbeing tools.
Here’s how it works: if a teenager is using TikTok after 10 p.m., their feed will be interrupted by a calming, guided breathing exercise. The new feature is available to all users, but it will be turned on by default for those under 18.
If the user continues to scroll after the first prompt, a second and more persistent reminder will appear – one that’s harder to dismiss.
Feature defaulted for teens
During the app’s testing phase, 98% of teen users kept the meditation experience enabled.
The update arrives amid growing scrutiny of social media’s impact on mental health, especially for teens.
While social media doesn’t affect all teens the same way, a 2022 Pew Research study found that 67% of U.S. teens aged 13 to 17 used TikTok.
A 2024 study from the American Psychological Association revealed that teens spend nearly five hours a day on platforms like TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Among those with the highest usage, 41% rated their overall mental health as poor.
Mental health donations and expert backing
TikTok also announced a $2.3 million donation in ad credits to 31 mental health organizations across 22 countries. These include the Alliance for Eating Disorders, Crisis Text Line and Active Minds.
Dr. Willough Jenkins, a child psychiatrist and content creator, partnered with TikTok to help introduce the feature. In a video shared Thursday, Jenkins said endless scrolling prevents the brain from resetting. She reminded her followers that while adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep, teens should be getting between 8 and 10.
Does meditation actually help?
Studies suggest meditation may be beneficial, but not in every context.
A study published by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health found that meditation was as effective as prolonged exposure therapy in reducing PTSD and depressive symptoms.
However, a review from McGill University noted that most mindfulness studies show only small benefits. When compared to active control groups of those doing other helpful activities, mindfulness often shows no clear advantage.
Still, McGill highlights mindfulness remains a billion-dollar industry. Apps like Headspace and Calm have reached millions of users globally.
