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Many social media analysts claim TikTok to be the emerging king of social media because of its type of content. Unsurprisingly, its short-form videos are most popular among youngsters – especially Gen-Zrs. While this popularity indicates the youth culture prevailing in the world today, it also signals a mental health crisis among this and previous generations because of the platform.
Is TikTok the only platform posing a mental health crisis among netizens, today? Of course not, but its impact is bigger because of its reach and the nature of the content. Let’s see the reasoning behind it by looking into the following areas.
- Risks of Excessive Use of TikTok
Here is how TikTok’s impact is different from that of other widely used digital entertainment channels.
- Passive Consumption
Your interaction with content creators on TikTok is far less than it can be on other platforms. People oftentimes; keep Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube interactive and personal by using these apps for connecting with their families and business prospects.
On the other hand, TikTokers use this app to mass communicate more often. They make content for quick likes and views. They can also buy TikTok auto likes to boost irrelevant content. At the same time, the comments section isn’t valued a lot. This way, the tiny influence from people on other SM platforms is mitigated on TikTok. With time, these viewers choose to follow the trends instead of making them, gradually losing their voices.
- Addiction
It’s not only TikTok’s content that is addicting; the app’s algorithm also tracks users’ preferences intelligently and keeps showing them to increase their viewing time. Ultimately, users report that their 15-minute TikTok usage decision stretches to two hours and more in every session.
Some of these short videos are picked by its algorithm because of users’ preferences. Others are viral videos because of the novelty of the content. At the same time, some users whobuy TikTok like to get their videos trending.
It doesn’t end here. Just like with smoking, users cannot quit TikTok cold turkey. And it gets trickier when they have to rely on their phone for connectivity with the outside world. So, if a person chooses to minimize their time spent on the platform, they must have strong willpower and a dependable support system to do so.
- Limited Social Life
TikTok addiction doesn’t mess up one’s mental health alone. Instead, it brings other evils that gradually disrupt different areas of the user’s life. The addiction prompts them to increase their time spent on the platform every day. Eventually, they are cut off from their social circle, their favorite hobbies, and their health and fitness routine.
Unsurprisingly, all these activities are essential for a healthy mind. Losing interest in these activities soon leads these viewers to lose touch with them, leading to a bad mood and a risk of depression.
Not to mention, these lost moments keep the user from moving forward and achieving their goals. The lag gets bigger every day increasing pressure on their self-esteem and damaging their self-confidence. This combines with the unrealistic standards set by social media and increases their risk of falling into the abyss of emotional crisis.
- Potentially Harmful Content
One day’s use of any social media platform isn’t going to ruin your mental peace. But continue using it for some days and a theme will emerge. This theme can have either a positive or negative outlook. Unfortunately, for most teenagers and young adults, this theme is negative.
An alarming study uncovers the trends of posts presented to newcomer teenagers on this platform. Accordingly, TikTok exposes these children between 13 and 17 years of age to content related to suicide and eating disorders.
The worst part is the ease of accessing this content. You only have to spend three minutes there before such information is presented to you.
This content increases the risk of behavioral disorders in already struggling teens.
- Comparison and Depression
The unrealistic standards set up by these videos are an even more dangerous influence on youth. This video-sharing platform allows intelligent filters to capture and present real-like videos and images. TikTokers can present all the made-up lives and body standards to wow their viewers and gain their attraction.
In the end, their beauty and lifestyle features become a trend, forcing viewers to eye unattainable standards. These viewers are left comparing their unfiltered lives with the deeply polished and sophisticated presentation of their favorite TikTokers, allowing depression in their lives.
- Opportunities
TikTok can get more harmful to the mental health of its users than other platforms but it also offers some opportunities for improvement. Here are some ways this platform has helped youth mature their mental health and connectedness with their social circles.
- Connection with Friends
Gen-Y and Gen-Z are primary users of TikTok. These generations are aged between 13 and 40 years. They make up the biggest studying and working parts of society in any country. They should be well-connected with their peers and families being in their prime years.
But internet use has distanced them from others. Social media has somewhat bridged this gap. Many youngsters use their social media platforms to connect with their families, co-workers, and friends.
For Gen-Z, TikTok makes this platform of choice. Even those youngsters, who are introverted or suffer from social anxiety, use this platform to connect with others after filtering out their insecurities – or better, help others with the same insecurities.
- Follow Motivational TikTokers
The internet has become the primary source of information for modern man. Every digital platform comes with its good and bad features. TikTok is no different. Here, you will find plenty of youngsters connecting with their age-fellows to spread messages of hope and positivity.
Fortunately, it’s not difficult to get started on TikTok. The popularity of the platform combines with the positive vibes of these TikTokers to increase their reach every day. They may have to buy followers initially, but with time, their organic reach will overshadow paid reach.
Take Away: Is TikTok Harmful for Mental Health or Not?
TikTok has its pros and cons and its impact on your mental health depends on how you use it and how much self-control you can exert. Whatever you do never use TikTok to run away from your insecurities or loneliness. This platform has a way to make these issues even worse. Use it to connect with like-minded people, instead.
Author Bio :
Qudsia Ehtram is a Veteran Content Creator at Digital Aimz and a seasoned creative head at QD Writing Services. She is a ghostwriter of 30 novels for US audience and holds 27 years of experience under her wings. Cherry on top, she is handling working for a number of brands as a Social Media Consultant.
