Hi, I'm a student completing a research paper for a class. This paper is about the effects TikTok has on the mental health of children and the possible solutions that can be found to alleviate the issue.
TikTok: A Toxic Application for Adolescents
TikTok is the fastest-growing social media application, with over one billion users since its launch in 2016 (Woodward 1). Short videos that keep people captivated have attracted the interest of many adolescents. Though TikTok can be fun for children, it also has many dangers. Not all these issues can be blocked by the TikTok interface, so knowing about these issues is critical for both parents and children to understand what to look for and what to avoid. The area that this research focuses on is the effects on mental health, issues with self-diagnosis, and different strategies to improve.
When it comes to the issues of mental health, there is a varying degree of effect it can have on adolescents. While some children do not experience as many of the problems that social media might ignite, children who are suffering from Social Media Disorder (SMD), also known as Social Media Addiction (SMA), are much more likely to experience intense feelings from social media. Just like any other addiction, adolescents suffering from SMD have similar symptoms to other substance addictions, such as mood modification and withdrawal. Other symptoms of SMD can be depression, anxiety, narcissistic behavioral changes, and loneliness. (Ergun, Alcan 1). The theory of the correlation between adverse mental health problems and SMD is proved in a survey conducted at Peking University in China, where mental health and the level of SMD were measured. In the study, Yubo Hou, the leading researcher, found a connection between SMD and low self-esteem. Though a correlation was proven, the research also stated that "the relation between poor mental health and social media addiction is likely to be bidirectional" (Hou, Xiong, et al. 9). Hou mentions this because there is also the possibility that adolescents who already have depression or anxiety are more likely to develop SMD instead of SMD being responsible for poor mental health. As mentioned, though, it is likely that SMA and low self-esteem influence each other, creating a downward spiral for any adolescents already suffering from depression. Though most people will not have issues with social media, adolescents who are more prone to emotional fluctuation due to their age are more susceptible to developing SMD.
One of the possible causes of SMD is the flow experience. The flow experience is when people lose track of time while scrolling on the phone. TikTok's algorithm, a simple swipe-up interface, and the "for you page" are among the most likely applications for a person to have the flow experience. In a study done by Yao Qin, Alessando Musetti, and Bahiyah Omar, it is apparent that "...enjoyment leads to concentration, and concentration leads to time distortion. Meanwhile, both concentration and time distortion significantly predicted problematic TikTok use" (Qin et al. 4.2.1). It is with this excessive usage of TikTok that will lead to SMD for some of these adolescents. The study also mentioned that "...excessive smartphone use can trigger the user's flow experience...This online behavior is associated with a range of physical and psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, stress, memory loss, poor quality sleep, dry and blurred eyes, and social isolation" (Qin et al. 1). Evidence of the flow theory comes from the article by Mathew Woodward that shows that TikTok has the highest average session length of any social media application at just under 11 minutes (Woodward). Each session is much longer than other social media platforms, reinforcing that TikTok's applications cause most people to go into a flow experience and continue swiping through videos. Adolescents experiencing the flow would be very similar to people experiencing a high. It feels great at the moment of consumption, but after the high has ended, the negative emotions return. This is a significant reason why social media is considered addictive. It has many similar symptoms of addiction.
Another mental health issue that is apparent in adolescents due to TikTok is a decrease in attention span. With many exciting things on the internet, it is not surprising that many distractions can make it hard for people to concentrate for long periods of time. TikTok extenuates the issue of short videos quickly swiped through. Though adolescents often focus on what is on the screen, that does not mean children can focus on something for a long time. TikTok has constantly changing videos that encourage people to pay attention only for a short period. An interview by WIRED found that nearly fifty percent of TikTok users get stressed from videos over a minute in 2022. (Stokel-Walker 2). With the global average time spent on TikTok being 52 minutes (Woodward), that is a lot of time to reinforce a shorter attention span. Adolescents are also more susceptible to suggestion while going through development, which puts children at a higher risk. People develop skills such as patience, and with applications such as TikTok, it is hard for young people to develop those skills, contributing to shorter attention spans.
While SMD focuses on using TikTok as an issue, there are also problems with the content found on the application. The content created on TikTok is monitored, and many regulations are put upon the posts made. However, the system to take down videos does not solve all the issues. Not to mention, TikTok's system does not ban videos that can be suggestive of harmful behavior. Some content is not harmful but can cause adolescents to come in harm's way.
One way adolescents can have trouble is because of TikTok from self-diagnosing based on videos. This happens when someone posts on TikTok about symptoms of a particular condition, and a child who watched the video believes they have similar symptoms. Therefore, the child believes that they have the said condition. In 2021, an expert named Adeola Adelayo, a practicing psychiatrist, found that there was an increase in teens self-diagnosing different mental health conditions. One of them being Tourretts Syndrome. Adelayo found that these teens did not have Tourretts. After implementing an individualized treatment plan and two weeks off TikTok, the patients returned to normal (Olsson). This phenomenon was not only seen by Adelayo but also by many other psychiatrists. It is an exciting case of suggestion, where adolescents were introduced to a condition so often that the teens began to imitate the symptoms.
In some cases, it goes beyond self-diagnosis, and children develop conditions due to TikTok. In a study, Giuseppe Logrieco followed a fourteen-year-old girl on the content she had on TikTok. The findings showed how influencers posted competitive behaviors that could cause teens to develop anorexia. The girl exemplifies this with drastic behavioral changes (Logrieco 2). Many adolescents between fourteen and eighteen have trouble with body image, and seeing people encouraging eating disorders will cause many to develop conditions like anorexia. Though most videos that suggest such behavior are usually banned, there are many ways to avoid banning.
Though self-diagnosis due to TikTok's content can be harmful, there are some benefits.
Dr. Adelayo acknowledges that when it comes to mental health, adolescents are the most observant and careful about monitoring it (Ollson). Knowing the symptoms of certain medical conditions allows adolescents to be well-informed when going to the doctor. Even doctors make mistakes, so knowing when to seek a second opinion when adolescents might be unsure about the visit's results is essential. TikTok also has different professionals who create posts talking about different medical conditions. This can be considered a reliable source of information for teenagers, but the possibility of the creator posing as a professional is relatively high. Any information found through TikTok should be verified through online medical research before a person self-diagnoses. Though the content of TikTok can help adolescents, the risks must be monitored carefully.
It is often the parents' responsibility to create a better environment for adolescents. Though different methods for the children can be advocated, parents will encourage specific behavior changes and monitor the issues. There are many options for parents, "[o]ne of the ways is to divert adolescents' attention from TikTok to reduce their concentration on the platform, which in turn could reduce problematic TikTok use. In doing so, parents should create an effective discussion space with their teens to discuss TikTok and its addictive features" (Qin et al. 5). Creating opportunities for children to have another focus and reducing the usage of TikTok will be the most helpful way to create change. A complete intervention from TikTok may be hazardous as many adolescents can feel like their parents are trying to take control. An atmosphere where the parent openly talks about the possible issues of TikTok and encourages other activities is more positive and uplifting than completely taking away the application. Possible activities that parents can encourage are school clubs, sports, starting different hobbies, and reading.
Reading goes beyond being a distraction and is quite helpful to child development. Not only does reading help with comprehension and concentration skills, but it also helps with mental health. In an article written by Lindsay Everson, it is stated that "[a]s social media sites invite narcissistic behaviors to flourish with the praise and approval gained through online identities, reading strays away from the negative behaviors and towards evoking empathy..." (Everson 18). Evoking empathy creates an environment of understanding others instead of comparing with others. Everson also stated, "Reading can show adolescents they are not alone in the world and help them form identities not based on the negative opinions of others and not based on a need of approval and praise" (Everson 17). Though encouraging adolescents to read is helpful, a balance with other activities is needed. While reading can teach many lessons about life and encourage children to grow, excessive reading can be harmful. Adolescents need social interaction. Without it, many people become lonely and depressed. Such an issue can again lead to SMD due to low self-esteem and SMD being bidirectional. This is another part that parents must be responsible for monitoring behavior and encouraging a balance when the adolescent needs it.
Parents are also responsible for addressing the self-diagnosis of the child. In the Banner Health article by Regan Olsson, there is a reminder to parents that if their child comes up to them claiming to have a mental health condition, talk to the child about the symptoms and reach out to a professional for more help. Whether an adolescent spends time researching the condition further or not, it is the parent's job to provide the opportunity to receive the proper care. Though parents are in a middle-man position without being able to create direct change, the first step of getting a child in to see a doctor is the most important.
Though parents are responsible for adolescents, this does not mean children cannot find solutions to social media's negative aspects. One solution that only adolescents can follow in an intervention process. While parent intervention only creates a confrontation between the parent and child, when an adolescent looks for help, the adolescent has already acknowledged an issue that needs to be changed. The study by Yubo Huo from Peking University found that the "intervention program effectively reduced social media addiction and improved students' mental health and learning efficiency" (Hou, et al. 10). This program was only a two-week program where in the first week adolescents were asked to go to lab and answer questions about social media. In the second week, adolescents were asked to fill out a form with similar questions. This study did not require children to remove social media applications altogether, but improvements were still made. It is through understanding more about how social media was making adolescents feel that created the most change.
Improvements to alleviate TikTok's bad influence require understanding and communication. Both parents and children need to understand the possible depth of the issue to create a positive environment of change. That is where communication comes in. When a parent has more information about the possible dangers of TikTok, a conversation must be had with the adolescent before changes are implemented. This will help the child understand why there are new expectations. In the same way, children should speak to parents about possible conditions. Clear communication will stop misunderstandings and ensure the growth and improvement of adolescents.
Information on TikTok's harmful effects on mental health and possible solutions is essential knowledge for any parent or guardian. With the expansion of the internet and new technology developing constantly, knowing some of its dangers can be immensely helpful in understanding students. Time should be taken to understand more about adolescents' moods, especially during the teenage years. Instead of assuming that it is just hormones, knowing the cause of the symptoms that the adolescent is showing and why can create a positive environment that will help the child thrive. Roughly forty-five percent of TikTok users in the United States are Generation Z (Woodward). TikTok's negative effect on adolescents is a significant problem and will continue to be as TikTok grows. With that, finding the best solution for each adolescent is essential. Further research is still needed when it comes to Social Media Addiction and the connections it has with mental health, but based on the current information, action still needs to be taken.
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