TikTok this week announced a number of new parental controls to manage screen time on the popular social media app for teenagers

The new controls are combined under a feature called Family Safety Mode This includes access to Screen Time Management, introduced in April 2019, as well as restrictions on direct messages and certain types of content

"As part of our commitment to safety, user wellbeing is very important to us," wrote Cormac Kennan, TikTok's head of trust and safety for Europe, Middle East and Africa, in a blog post

"We want people to have fun on TikTok, but it's also important for our community to look out for their own wellbeing in terms of having a healthy relationship with online apps and services"

Previously, any TikTok user could limit their screen time, but now parents can cap the amount of time their children can scroll on TikTok

And for parents, this new screen time and content limit may sound great, if not belated: you may finally get your teenager's attention at the dinner table It could also reassure teens that they won't fall for a TikTok scam or get carried away with obscene videos or messages

But how would teens feel? I'm guessing they won't be too thrilled

TikTok, one of the 10 most downloaded apps of the past decade, is immensely popular among the under-20 crowd However, they may not love the platform as much if they feel that digital manipulation is interfering with their lip-synching, memes, and other online antics

If it were me (and I'm not that far off), I would want my parents to talk to me about what I'm doing on TikTok, rather than prevent my experience with physical barriers If they have concerns about my screen time, I would want them to talk to me about my phone usage in general rather than specifically targeting my favorite apps

Parents, if you are concerned about what your teenager is doing on TikTok, ask

Start regular conversations with your child about using new technology and social media While you may not be able to monitor your child's digital presence, you can encourage open communication and teach them what is appropriate to engage with online