TikTok plans to introduce new options to encourage users to take a break from endless scrolling of short videos on the platform amid general pressure on tech companies to address excessive social media use.

TikTok said in a blog post on Thursday that it will offer a new option in the coming weeks for users to set custom time limits for how long they want to spend uninterrupted on the app before receiving a reminder to take a break.

Previously, TikTok allowed users to get a notification if they spent more than 40, 60, 90, or 120 minutes on the app daily.

Jordan Forlong, TikTok's production director, said in a post: "These updates will remind people to take a break after a long period of uninterrupted use of the app, which they can set as they wish."

According to the company, the app will feature: "Break reminders help you feel more mindful and balanced on TikTok." The new screen time dashboard will also provide users with data on how much time they spend on TikTok, including summaries of daily time spent on the platform, how many times they opened the app, and a breakdown of daytime and nighttime usage.

The updates come after months of pressure on social media companies to do more to help users in the digital age, as lawmakers and advocates scrutinize the mental health impacts of platforms on younger users.

Executives from TikTok, YouTube, and Snap were questioned by senators late last year about steps their platforms are taking to protect teenagers.

Other social media platforms have previously announced similar initiatives. Instagram launched the "Take a Break" tool in December last year.