Reimagining TikTok to more genuinely support its users
overview
TikTok’s well-being features often feel half-baked, which makes the platform feel insincere and exploitative.
This project aims to improve on these features so that TikTok can not only support users’ well-being but also enhance its brand image as a platform that genuinely cares for its users.
timeline
Oct - Dec 2023
roles & responsibilities
1. introduction
background
TikTok’s current well-being features feel like fake empathy
TikTok makes it easy to lose track of time and slip into unhealthy habits. Despite its initiative to support mental health, the platform's well-being features feel half-baked, making TikTok appear disingenuous and exploitative.
While its profitable to keep users engaged for as long as possible, many users stay away from the app altogether for how easy it is to unknowingly waste so much time.
How can TikTok support their users’ well-being better so that people can view TikTok in a healthier and more positive light?
before — stagnated and stuck
after — growing and learning
solution highlights
Visible Swiping Behavior
Break Encouragement
Occassional Check-Ins
Contextualized Data
2. identifying the problem
desk research
Not everyone has TikTok. Many fear its negative effects.
Many people I know refuse to download TikTok because of its notoriously addictive algorithm. This isn't unique to my circle, though — it's widely recognized that the platform is very addicting and could be bad for your mental health.
In this Reddit post, users share their negative feelings toward TikTok's addictive nature, with many choosing to avoid the app entirely. This not only harms the users' well-being but also affects TikTok's user base, as more users feel taken advantage of by the platform.
scholarly articles
What makes TikTok so addictive?
To understand what makes TikTok so addictive, I explored several scholarly articles and identified these common factors that contributed to the platform's highly engaging nature:
Social comparison
Deriving self worth on what they see / how much engagement they get
Fear of missing out
Feeling left out on the current trends, news, and pop culture
Time distortion
The addictive 'flow state' makes it easy to distort time and escape reality
INTERVIEWS
Users had a love-hate relationship with TikTok
I then interviewed five males (as males are more susceptible to depression and anxiety) aged 21–26, focusing on their thoughts on TikTok and how these three factors affected them in real life.
Among the different motivations users had for using TikTok, there was one clear similarity: feeling regret, unproductive, and "stuck" scrolling for too long. Some even try to restrict their usage through timer limits.
user archetypes
Users need a way to manage their time better
As the scholarly articles suggested, I noticed a correlation between the participants' motivations for using TikTok and social comparison, FOMO, and time distortion.
I categorized the users into distinct archetypes based on each factor. Though their reasons for using TikTok are different, all user archetypes shared a common desire to manage their TikTok usage in a healthier way.
research INSIGHT
3. the current state of tiktok
feature analysis
So how does TikTok currently address this time management issue?
TikTok has a couple of well-being features in place to help with users managing their screen time, which sounds great on paper...
However, they're not effective at reinforcing healthy habits. They are easily dismissed with a few quick taps or a swipe, leaving little time for users to reflect on their usage.
Screen time lock after surpassing daily limit
Enforces limit
Very abrupt and sudden
Nothing is motivating me to actually quit
Pop-ups remind you to take a break after a set amount of time
Forces you to acknowledge the pop-up
Easily dismissible without reading
'Take a break' videos appear in feed after a while
Actionable and non-intrusive
In your face, not calming
Looks like an ad and makes me want to skip it
user JOURNEY
How it's currently setup, scrolling is both engaging and draining
Users experience a rollercoaster of emotions as they scroll through various content, ranging from funny fails to sad dog videos, which keeps them engaged as they anticipate the next video.
Combine this with the easily dismissible features, and users are stuck in a TikTok cycle where it's easy to lose track of time, as illustrated below.
Approach
* while trying to balance the business value of maintaining high engagement from users with user sentiment and satisfaction
4. solution
Business considerations
Balancing the business value of maintaining high engagement with user sentiment
Giving users more control over their TikTok usage might conflict with the platform's high engagement strategy, so finding a balance between user well-being and business goals was a challenge.
Still, I think this solution finds a good middle ground—giving up a bit of addictive engagement to support user well-being and sentiment keeps both sides satisfied. Users will have a more positive view of the platform, and TikTok can reach a wider audience while boosting its reputation.
SOLUTION
A predictable system that is less abrupt and encourages the user to take action
SWipe counter
Users are shown a counter of how many swipes they have left in a given session
- Increased visibility of their behavior leads to greater control as they become more aware of their habits
- Reaching the limit gives users a sense of completion, encouraging them to stop scrolling
once users reach the end of their swipe session...
take a break breathing exercise
Relax your mental state by following a guided breathing exercise
- Have a clearer mind to make informed decisions
- Opens up business opportunity to collaborate and partner with mental health programs.
after completion, or swiping to skip after 5 seconds...
digital wellness check-in
Screen time overview allows users to make informed decisions
- Habit overview helps users make more mindful choices about whether or not they should continue to scroll
- Reduces potential guilt and regret from scrolling excessively.
App usage management
Easy access to screen time data to manage usage
- Helps users feel more in control of their experience with easy access to manage their well-being and time
- Provides autonomy when needed, while remaining minimally intrusive
new journey
Improving the key pain points of the user journey
While it may be unrealistic for TikTok to completely abandon the elements that make their platform so addiction, this solution can lessen the guilt that comes from too much scrolling, so users can feel better about using TikTok.
4. conclusion
conclusion
TikTok's well-being features can be more genuine to improve user sentiment
TikTok is notorious for being highly addictive, and it's well-being features fall short in addressing this issue.
While prioritizing user well-being might seem counterintuitive to business goals, I believe that genuine care for user health could significantly expand the user base.
By implementing features like swipe counters, usage visibility, and break reminders, we can empower users to take control of their app usage and create a more positive user experience.
next steps
The next steps for this project
A/B testing
I collected informal feedback from my friends about my solution (they liked it!) but it would be beneficial to validate it with A/B testing.
Success could be measured by user receptiveness, time spent on the app, and reported moods.
Incentivize completing breaks
Create incentives to finish the wellness breathing video all the way instead of skipping it.
Maybe add +15 swipes for the next time?
Monitor long term effectiveness
Track users over a few months to see how well these features hold up - will users regress back to bad habits?
This can be measured through screen time statistics, app open/closes, how many people are completing the break video, and reported moods.
takeaways
What I learned from this project
1. Navigating mental health requires a lot of care and trust
While I expected some participants to be hesitant to open up about their mental health, it was more difficult in practice. To create a more comfortable environment, I’ve learned the importance of easing the more difficult questions and keeping them open-ended.
While I expected some participants to be hesitant to open up about their mental health, it was more difficult in practice. To create a more comfortable environment, I’ve learned the importance of easing the more difficult questions and keeping them open-ended.
2. Back design decisions with solid data
It was difficult to learn about TikTok’s UI due to the nature of some of the screens (e.g. ”take a break” video). However, the effort is worth it, as evidence-based designs lead to more informed and effective outcomes. Having access to a comprehensive design guide or a Wiki would have streamlined this process.
It was difficult to learn about TikTok’s UI due to the nature of some of the screens (e.g. ”take a break” video). However, the effort is worth it, as evidence-based designs lead to more informed and effective outcomes. Having access to a comprehensive design guide or a Wiki would have streamlined this process.
3. Set clear objectives for data collection
The survey I conducted gave me little value due to its lack of structure, but a more effective approach would have been to conduct a week-long experiment to effectively gauge participants’ moods against usage. By designing data collection with more intent, my research can have more valuable results.
The survey I conducted gave me little value due to its lack of structure, but a more effective approach would have been to conduct a week-long experiment to effectively gauge participants’ moods against usage. By designing data collection with more intent, my research can have more valuable results.