We all know what TikTok is, and if you don’t, well, you must be living under a rock or something because this social media platform is like the super famous one, not just in one part of the world, but all around the globe actually. Just so you know, the platform enables millions of young people and kids to spend hours and hours watching videos, making content, and making friends, you know?
Nevertheless, with the rising emergence of TikTok, the negative effects it can have on the mental health of children and young people have also received increased attention. Specifically, recently, several lawsuits have been filed with TikTok accused of being responsible for worsening mental health conditions among the youth, did you know that? So, let’s talk about what’s the real concern here. Here we go.
So, What Is Really Going On, Especially In The U.S.?
Just so you know, in 2024, a total of 14 attorneys general from various states in the United States filed lawsuits against TikTok, and why’s that though? Well, they said that the platform is the main cause of the mental health crisis among kids and teenagers. According to the complaints, it is said that TikTok addicts kids to use it for a long time which will eventually lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, you know? And we all are familiar that TikTok is to blame for proposing harmful challenges that promote risky behavior and sending notifications in the middle of the night that disturb the sleep cycle.
So sure, the lawsuits claim that TikTok’s main objective is to maximize the time users spend on the app so that it can receive more ads. Despite saying that they have already installed security measures such as setting time limits for students and controls for parents, the complaints claim that TikTok has not taken enough actions to protect students and younger users in the country, instead, it is specifically targeting them. Which is a genuine concern.
Mental Health Concerns Linked to Social Media
Various mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, have been linked to teenage social media platforms like TikTok, and sure, it actually skyrocketed when TikTok became a big thing in the world. And sure, there have been some studies that really show that the excessive use of such sites can lead to poor self-esteem, anxiety, and depression, so, that’s really not the question. Moreover, as teens tend to use TikTok’s hunt for short videos, they may feel pressured to create content and gain followers while keeping up with the latest trends, resulting in higher stress levels, that’s another way to look at it. In experts’ opinion, this can very well cause issues related to body image and even lead to eating disorders, especially in teenage girls, who are likely to feel the need to look good everywhere and at all times.
Notable Legal Cases and Incidents
And it is not like these are just imaginary scenarios, there have been some cases where truly, it is TikTok that is at fault for triggering such harmful behavior in younger people. Like, there are considerable issues with the lawsuits due to the physical adverse effects the TikTok viral challenges inflicted on some individuals, like for one instance, in New York, a 15-year-old boy died while being involved in the super dangerous subway surfing challenge which included riding the top of the train while it was the train itself. His mother, while searching through his TikTok feed, saw videos of this challenge suggesting to her that TikTok had a part in him taking that action.
In addition to mental health problems, TikTok has been accused of breaking laws set to protect children’s privacy. That’s another big discussion that is going on right now in the country and everywhere else in the world.
