The app, TikTok, has come to be one of the top apps across all social media platforms. Although the app is widely known for its variety of entertainment, education and community, there has been an ongoing debate on whether or not the content shared on the platform is beneficial for users’ mental health. The app consists of a “for you page” where users scroll through short videos made by people all over the world. The app uses cookies which personalize the content to users’ likes and interests based on the type of videos they interact with the most. In recent years, TikTok has created a “TikTok Shop” where users can buy and sell products as well as advertise and tag the items in their videos, sometimes for commission. The users of this app can choose whether to create and post videos or simply watch content made by creators.
The videos range from educational, political, comedy, trends, recipes, beauty, cars, and really anything you can think of. Considering the variety of content the app offers, as well as its rapid escalation to popularity, it’s clear why there’s so many opposing views on the matter. A journal published in the National Library of Medicine by Lakshit Jain et al. argues that use of the app TikTok is associated with increased levels of depression, anxiety, and addictive behaviors. On the other hand, a Los Angeles Times article written by Madalyn Amato proposes that TikTok can be a tool for users’ mental health by spreading awareness, providing validation, and educating users on the app. Though Amato has a more positive outlook on TikTok’s relation to mental health, she also makes it clear that the benefits of TikTok usage does have its limitations.
In spite of the opposing arguments about TikTok’s effect on mental health, the answer to this controversial question isn’t one side or the other, it’s a mediated conclusion that takes both sides into account stating that TikTok can be an effective resource for users to gain more information on mental health. However, users must learn to use the app responsibly as excessive use, lack of verifying information, and inability to know when to seek medical help on a health-related issue can be harmful for users’ mental health.
Summary of Source #1
To compare whether or not TikTok is having a positive effect on users' mental health, I will be comparing information provided by a study made by the “National Library of Medicine” written by Lakshit Jain et al.. The article discusses how a major reason people spend so much of their time on TikTok is due to FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) of their online connections; The authors also describe how although much of the content provided on TikTok is considered for entertainment purposes, many creators made their content based around “lifestyle comparison” instead, which leads to having a “negative self-image” not only for the content creator but also the viewers (Jain et al. 6). The authors also explain some of the psychological factors, listing some of the negative outcomes of overusing Titkok. Jain et al. emphasizes that these outcomes only worsen health issues that users of TikTok may already have.
The article also claims that TikTok is purposely constructed to be addictive since it is tailored to users’ likes. In addition, Jain and his colleagues also mention negative behavioral factors that result from TikTok usage, indicating TikTok’s negative influence on users’ mental health (Jain et al. 2) The authors use various studies suggesting that TikTok users have higher levels of not only depression but also procrastination (Jain et al. 5). The article categorizes TikTok as a low-effort app since it has no payment requirement while still offering users with multiple aspects to get entertained with such as the content, creating content, buying and selling on the TikTok shop, going live, and so much more. It was strongly highlighted in the article that the convenience of the app makes it more likely that people become addicted to it. The authors overall suggest the app to have an “addictive nature” which resulted in disruptions to “ personal, academic, and social lives” (Jain et al. 2).
Summary of Source #2
On the opposing side I will be drawing information from a Los Angeles Times article titled “TikTok is Helping Gen Z With Mental Health. Here’s What it Can and Can't Do” written by Madalyn Amato. In the article she describes an upward trend of TikTok videos regarding mental health in the app. She seems to believe TikTok can be a beneficial tool, however also makes it clear that not everything said on the short videos is a reliable source. One of the things she lists as pros for Tiktok is that it offers education. She uses Peter Wallerich-Neils as a prime example on how he began talking about his disorder online and many people benefited from his videos. Another positive quality Amato mentions is that TikTok offers validation. Amato explains how as Wallerich-Neils started his content creating journey, he realized just how many others could relate to him and his struggles with ADHD.
Finally, Amato speaks highly of the community TikTok offers. She quotes a nurse practitioner, Dr. Kojo Sarfo who emphasises the necessity of speaking on the topic of mental health since it’s not very common to do so (Amato). John Pacentini, professor at UCLA who was mentioned by Amato, says how TikTok is a coping mechanism for socialization, especially after the pandemic. Piacentini believes there’s a high need for teenagers to find the “comfort and like-minded people” we naturally seek (Amato). Apart from all these positive attributes about TikTok, Madelyn also lists some of the things TikTok can’t do. She talks about how although many of the short videos can spread mental health awareness, constant indulgence in these types of videos can worsen symptoms. The article emphasizes that “not everyone is a professional” (Amato). Amato highlights that it’s important to seek professional help when in doubt of a certain condition you may have and not simply rely on everything that is on the internet.
Points of Agreement
After reading through the articles, it’s made evident that both Jain et al. and Amato take opposing positions, however they both agree on a couple points. To Initiate, both authors agree that TikTok has a strong sense of community. Jain et al. describes how “Social Influences” and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) often motivate users to actively use TikTok. According to Jain and his colleagues, “This continuous need for connection often led to compulsive use…” (Jain et al. 6). This goes on to show how they acknowledge that users find and build connections through the use of this platform. Likewise, Amato highlights in her article, how users have a sense of belonging while using TikTok. She references John Piacentini “a professor in the UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences" who claims that TikTok has become a way for adolescents to cope with their need to socialize, especially after the lock-downs during the pandemic (Amato). This implies that users are capable of creating relationships within the app. Both sources, whether they believe TikTok is helpful or harmful for our mental health, recognize that TikTok is a free tool in which users can fulfill their desire for social interaction.
Furthermore, both articles also agree how TikTok has a major influence on users' mental state. Jain et al. presents a more negative take by stating that usage of the app causes "loneliness, boredom, low self-esteem, neuroticism, procrastination, and depressive tendencies…” (Jain et al. 5); Although Amato has a more positive approach to TikTok usage, she also admits that constant watching of the content may "exacerbate symptoms” (Amato). Here, we see how both authors have a similar idea of TikTok’s psychological effects.
Additionally, both of these sources demonstrate that the information about mental health is widespread and extremely impactful on the TikTok app. In one of the studies conducted by Jain et al., proves that within 20 minutes of using TikTok, “users experienced significant increase in depression and anxiety, with depression scores increasing by 12% and anxiety levels rising by 15%...” (Jain et al. 6). Although Amato also recognizes that users often consume large amounts of mental health-related content on TikTok, she also emphasizes the fact that “not everyone is a professional” and how users should always verify the information we see online, as well as seek professional help if someone believes to be experiencing a mental health problem (Amato).
Points of Disagreement
Although these authors had points of agreement, they also had many disagreements on the topic. For starters, the most evident disagreement is whether or not they believe TikTok is beneficial for our mental health. Jain et al. argue that excessive use of TikTok leads to “obsession, escapism, and lack of control”, making it evident that they portray the platform to be addictive and psychologically damaging for users (Jain et al. 12).
On the other hand, Amato presents TikTok as a means for users to be empowered as it offers users validation. She describes Wallerich-Neils’ personal experience, where he felt the need to “fill the void created by the lockdowns” (Amato). She explains how as Wallerich-Neils started his content creating journey, he realized how many others could relate to him and his struggles with ADHD. Through this example, Amato demonstrates how TIkTok allows users to feel understood and validated through mutual experience.
Another point in which these authors disagree is the intention behind the algorithm. Jain et al. mentions how personalized content increases the amount of scrolling users do, which strengthens their “compulsive use” behavior (Jain et al. 2). According to one of their studies, the way the app is constructed is purposeful and meant to encourage addiction. However, Amato has a more positive take on this and states the app isn’t intended to be manipulative. She shifts the focus to letting users know that they are responsible for seeking professional help if they believe they need it rather than putting blame on TikTok for sharing more of the content the user is engaging with the most.
Not only do the authors disagree on the app’s algorithm, they also disagree on the mental health awareness aspect of it. Amato seems to appreciate the fact that mental health is widely talked about on the app. One of the examples Amato gave was by Wallerrich-Neils who describes what users feel like when finding relatable mental health content on TikTok. Wallerich- Neils states that, “It’s kind of holding a mirror up to themselves and they can realize ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t realize that this is something that I thought only I dealt with’ー knowing that there could be a name for it. And ‘I am part of this community that I didn’t even know existed” (Amato).
This goes on to show that TikTok can help users who are struggling with a mental issue figure out exactly what it is and use the information in the video to begin the next steps to seeking professional help. However, Jain et al. does not view openness about mental health as something beneficial for users. Jain et al. suggest that the outcomes of continuous engagement with mental health related content on TikTok can actually worsen existing health issues
To wrap up, each author gathered their information differently. While Jain et al. conducted multiple studies across various groups of people, Amato relied mostly on credible people, as well as users personal experience and examples. So while Jain et al. sees TikTok as a psychological risk, Amato sets it as a social tool for the app’s users allowing it to become a resource to gain information. While still letting it be known that the app has its limits as to how accurate the information is.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Source #1
Both sides of the argument acquire strengths and weaknesses. The article written by Jain et al. has many strong points, one being the fact that it is a peer reviewed journal, therefore its credibility is a lot higher than an average article entry. The journal is also published by the National Library of Medicine which dignifies trustworthiness. Another aspect that made this argument strong is that not only are there multiple authors that wrote this journal but also a variety of research that was conducted by these authors that back up their claims.
These studies were done through diverse age groups, gender groups, and countries, making the evidence itself more accurate. The extensive research that was put into making this journal solidifies Jain and his colleagues’ claims about TikTok’s negative effects on users’ mental health. The journal’s overall structure is also very well organized and breaks down the whole research process of each study that was made. Jain et al. used multiple statistics that they gathered from their own research to infer how and why TikTok contributed to mental health issues.
Although this source proves to be credible and data-based, I do feel as though it lacked a personal feel to it. It’s understandable that the purpose behind this article was to inform the reader about TikTok’s negative effects on mental health, however the lack of personal experiences within the journal makes it seem insensitive for the reader. If they truly want to spread awareness about the app, they should cater to their target audience by including user experiences since their excessive data and lack of personal touch, can be dismissed by those they intend to inform. Therefore, Jain et al. weaken their argument by failing to provide a humane aspect to “soften up” the research, not by minimizing the relevance of it but by making it more personalized to their target audience.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Source #2
As for the article written by Amato, she did a really good job presenting the reader with relatable situations. Within the article she used experiences by users of the app to determine whether or not TikTok is helpful for mental health. By using others’ personal experiences within the app, she created an emotional foundation for her readers where they can more easily relate to. Amato emphasized TikTok’s ability to make users feel heard, understood, and connected through validation, and a sense of belonging to the TikTok community.
She touched on the lock-down subject which everyone went through and many could relate to the feeling of isolation during that time. She gave an example of how TikTok became a means for people to connect while this worldwide pandemic was occurring which is something many people can emotionally associate themselves with. Amato mixed the emotional aspect of her examples with professional opinions. She uses feedback given by experts such as doctors and professors at high-ranking schools to back up the stories that she shares, making her point more credible.
Although she did a really good job at creating emotional connection between the reader and her article, Amato’s article lacks data that backs up her claims, especially compared to Jain et al.'s journal. So, even though she gave great examples of real-life user experiences, and expert opinions, she didn’t necessarily use statistical research to solidify her claims which weakens her article. I do feel like her article lacked information, for example, further research. Her points were great and very well written, however I think she could’ve provided the reader with more measurable data within her writing.
Compromise
Evidently, both articles had their strengths and weaknesses. Jain et al. delivered a more research based journal offering readers with credible information. However, they also lacked emotional connection to their audience, resulting in not as many TikTok users actually reading through their research data. On the other hand, Amato chose to use relativity within her writing, making her target audience more inclined to read her article as it provides the reader with real experiences from other users. Nevertheless, Amato lacks statistics to support her claims.
After reading through both sources, it’s quite evident that TikTok isn’t entirely harmful nor is it entirely beneficial either. Both sources can agree that Tikok provides users with the ability to connect with others and can satisfy their social interaction needs. That’s not to say that excessive use of the platform can result in negative effects on users' mental health. It’s safe to say that although TikTok can act as a source for information, it’s also proven through both sources that it’s not always a reliable reference and, like much of what you see on social media, should be fact checked.
Users should be aware of both the pros and cons of using the app, that way they can navigate through the app more responsibly and thoughtfully. As long as users know about both the pros and cons of TikTok, and learn to adopt a healthier and more responsible way to use it, TikTok could be a universal source for the world to stay informed.
By: Yaretzi E. Valencia
Works Cited
Amato, Madalyn. “TikTok is Helping Gen Z with Mental Health. Here's What it Can and Can't Do.” Los Angeles Times, 5 January 2022, https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2022-01-05/those-struggling-with-mental-health-have-found-validation-on-tiktok-heres-how.
Lakshit, Jain, et al. “Exploring Problematic TikTok Use and Mental Health Issues: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies.” Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, vol. 16, 2025, p. 30. National Library of Medicine, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11924099/.
It is a bit surprising that a social media app can have even a slight negative impact on ones Mental Health. Maybe it is better to stay off of tik tok sometimes! Social media finds ways to control peoples lives everyday.
ReplyDeleteThat's some pretty crazy information since I do use TikTok everyday and every night, maybe I should control the amount of time I spend on social media haha.
ReplyDeleteIts scary how much social media can take a toll on people, especially in todays society where its people most turn to for information or even entertainment. Social media has grown rapidly, harming people everyday whether its due to bullying or comparing themselves to people online.
ReplyDeleteI definitely relate to a few of these things that are mentioned from spending too much time on TikTok or even just social media in general. There were lots of good points that would persuade people like me who spend lots of time on social media to lessen that. I enjoyed the pictures for each section as they drew me in to continue reading as well as how I related to each section discussed.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize till I read your essay how often I'm on Tik Tok and that it can take an effect on people's mental health.
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