Questions and answers
TikTok, the global sensation: is this harmless app fun or dangerous? Following the initiation of a nationwide investigation into the negative impacts of the video platform, psychiatric timesTM sat down with Jaclyn Halpern, PsyD, to talk about it.
Psychiatric Times (PT): The attorneys general of several states have launched a nationwide investigation into TikTok and its possible harmful effects on the mental health of young users. What does the literature/medical research show about TikTok and its impact?
Halpern: Research specific to social media and TikTok is relatively new and still emerging. Some research shows that people with attention issues may experience more difficulty with social media. Other research has concluded that children with complex and stressful mental health problems or environmental trauma may experience at least temporary increases in emotional symptoms after social media use.
Social problems based on personal and ethical values impacted by the use of social networks have also been found. However, data is limited, causality has not yet been clearly established, personal factors affecting positive and negative outcomes are unclear, and the long-term impact has not yet been fully studied given that social media use and related research is relatively new. Furthermore, studies on individual platforms like TikTok, as opposed to social networks as a whole, are very limited. Given that the research is mixed, non-conclusive, and in its early stages, and while there is clear cause for concern, it is likely that there will be both positive and negative outcomes as a result of social media use.
PT: Has research shown that it is more harmful to boys or girls?
Halpern: I have not found definitive research to suggest that Tik Tok is more harmful based on gender.
PT: About a billion users are on TikTok. Do you think it has become too big to control at this point? Is that part of the problem?
Halpern: TikTok is indeed a great platform. While there are parental controls available, not all parents have the knowledge to protect their children from inappropriate content. Although there is a restricted mode, the size of the site may allow inappropriate content to be filtered out.
Also, not all topics can be adequately filtered, and what families find appropriate for one child may be inappropriate for another. Given this, the size of TikTok makes it likely that any child using the platform will be exposed to inaccurate information and something potentially upsetting, harmful, or traumatizing, even with parental supervision and careful use.
PT: During the pandemic, TikTok became at the forefront of trends: bread baking, whipped coffee, dancing. Are there any potential positives that you see in the app? Have you helped bring us together?
Halpern: Absolutely. There are a variety of benefits that can be derived from using TikTok and other social media platforms. This includes allowing people to interact about their interests; learn a new hobby; promote your businesses and creations; share content that is playful, fun or educational; peacefully mobilize around social and political issues; establish a sense of identity; and even learn about other cultures. Positive TikTok content can be empowering and educational. Particularly during the pandemic, it has become a source of entertainment and connection for many. This was critical to the well-being of many during a time of isolation and fear.
PT: On the other hand, have things like TikTok dances contributed to the oversexualization of young people’s bodies?
Halpern: It is reasonable to conclude that some of the content on TikTok, including some of the dancing, can lead to the oversexualization of young people’s bodies. The oversexualization of children by the media in general is a long-standing concern, particularly for women. These concerns are based on the standards of beauty and sexuality portrayed by the bodies and styles of models and artists, as well as lyrics in songs, dances, music videos, and portrayals of children and adolescents in videos, television, and movies. Recent press and publicized anecdotes also suggest a possible negative impact on body image for all genders. To fully understand the oversexualization caused by TikTok, specific research on the impact of dancing and other potentially sexual content available on the platform is needed.
PT: Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has said that: “TikTok threatens the safety, mental health and well-being of our children.”1 Do you think that this opinion is somehow related to the lack of understanding and fear of adults to this new method of participation for their children?
Halpern: Based on currently available research, there is evidence that adults’ lack of understanding and fear are factors in making judgments about the negative impacts of TikTok and other social media platforms. However, there is also cause for concern given the content available on TikTok, the differences in ethics and values surrounding TikTok content, the pressures children and teens may feel based on TikTok content, and the possibility of meeting with an online predator when using the app. Ultimately, research has begun to show both risks and positives for young people using TikTok and other social media platforms.
PT: The focus is on TikTok here, but what about Instagram, Snapchat and other forms of social media? What does current medical literature say about its harmful effects? Aren’t they similar to TikTok in their promotion of things like eating disorder content?
Halpern: There is a critical need for research on the impact of individual platforms and content. Current research has shown a mix of positive and negative outcomes as a result of social media use. As with TikTok, there is preliminary research suggesting both positive (recovery from eating disorder) and negative (pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia) impacts of eating disorder content on multiple social media platforms.
PT: A social media influencer in Germany may have contributed to what researchers call a “massive social media-induced illness,” in which patients exhibited Tourette’s symptoms and tics that closely resembled the person’s own tics influential in social networks.two Apps like TikTok can help spread awareness about mental illness, but do you think they also contribute to self-diagnosis?
Halpern: Yes absolutely. That said, self-diagnosis can be both positive and negative. For some, self-diagnosis opens the door to better self-understanding and self-esteem, and may lead to seeking medical diagnosis and support. For others, self-diagnosis can be harmful and even dangerous, especially if the conclusions drawn are inaccurate or based on faulty information.
PT: Finally, what advice would you give any mental health clinician talking to kids, teens, and their parents about social media?
Halpern: Mental health clinicians should continue to monitor research on the use of social media to make accurate recommendations when talking to children, adolescents, and their parents. They should consider individual factors and help families weigh the pros and cons of using social media, including the pros and cons of different social media platforms. Additionally, mental health clinicians should encourage parents to explore parental controls that may be effective and appropriate for their families. They should also encourage families to discuss appropriate supervision of their children’s use of social media, based on family values and individualized needs.
PT: Thank you!
Dr Halpern is the Director of the SOAR program in Behavioral Medicine Associates of Washington.
References
1. Associated Press. California among states launching research into TikTok’s effect on children’s health. KTLA. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2022. https://ktla.com/news/california/california-among-states-launching-probe-into-tiktoks-effect-on-kids-health/
2. Kuntz L. Tourette or massive sociogenic disease? It’s up to you. psychiatric times. September 23, 2021. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/tourettes-or-mass-sociogenic-illness-you-decide
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