Web Desk) – A video app has launched a new mindfulness tool called 'Wind Down' to help teenage users wind down before bed and move away from the app's feed.

Wind Down will automatically turn on if a teen is on the app after 10pm, interrupting the For You feed with a full screen takeover and playing calming music.

The social media giant said that in the coming weeks, it will also begin testing additional meditation exercises as part of the feature.

It is believed to be the first time a social media platform has pushed mindfulness tools directly to users, and comes as part of a wider update from TikTok.

It also features new parental control tools, including a feature called Time Away, which enables parents to block teenagers from TikTok during specific times, such as family meals, school, at night or during a holiday.

Until now, TikTok and other social media platforms enabled parents to set screen time allowances in hours and overnight, but not specific schedules during the day.

With the new Wind Down tool, if they're on the app after 10pm, teens will be interrupted with a full-screen takeover with calming music.

They'll then be given the option to continue scrolling, or to switch off.

If the teen does decide to spend additional time on TikTok after this first reminder, they'll then be shown a second, hard-to-dismiss, full-screen prompt.

'As before, we deliberately do not send push notifications to teens at night, which cannot be changed,' TikTok explained.

According to the app, the tool is designed to help teens to develop 'balanced long-term habits'.

'We designed these features to reflect best practices in behaviour change theory by providing positive nudges that can help teens develop balanced long-term habits,' it explained in a statement.

So far, the tool has been piloted in several countries, and has proved a success, according to TikTok.

'In countries where this has already been piloted, the vast majority of teens decide to keep this reminder on,' it added.

'In the coming weeks, we'll also test adding meditation exercises to the wind down reminder, as research shows that mindful meditation can improve sleep quality.'

TikTok has also added a new Family Pairing feature that will allow parents to see who their teen is following, who follows them, and any accounts their teen has blocked.

'With increased visibility into their teen's network, parents will be better equipped to have ongoing conversations and help their teens develop the digital literacy skills they need,' TikTok said.

Carolyn Bunting, Co-CEO at Internet Matters, welcomed the changes.