26 Dec Is TikTok Bad for Mental Health? These Teens Say It Depends How You Use It

(Photo by Solen Feyissa via Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 license)

First Person, Various Authors

 Editor’s note: A lot of adults think TikTok is bad for the youth. Several attorneys general even sued the social media giant in October, accusing it of being addictive and bad for kids’ mental health. But do the youth agree?

We asked local teens: If you use TikTok, do you think it has had a negative, positive or no impact on your mental health? Please explain why, and tell us about how you use TikTok and how often. If you feel it has negatively affected your mental health, have you changed how you use it or stopped using it as a result? This is part one in a roundup of their responses, which have been edited for length and clarity.

TikTok has had a negative effect on my mental health. It often takes hours from my day. I usually have an average of 10-40 minutes of use, but last year, it would go up to four hours. To stop that harmful, repetitive behavior, I added a screen time limit of 15 minutes. However, I can just add more time. I had to download another app that added a screen limit time and would show me my to-do list, so I would think twice before entering the app. That helped and reminded me I had better things to be doing, so I’ve slowly been getting rid of that habit.

In addition, I have removed it from my home screen, so I’m not tempted to open the app. Now, I find myself using the app as a search engine, like if I want to see a product review. I think I’ve been better off without TikTok since I’m aware that social media apps have built-in algorithms to make you addicted to continue scrolling. Apps make their money based off how much time you spend on them, and knowing this changed the way I view my time spent on these apps. Spending less time there has allowed me to focus my time on my hobbies, homework and school.

— Lourdes Mendoza, 17

>>>Teen Talk:

Why I Deleted TikTok From My Phone and My Life<<<

I think that it can have a negative impact, but the app feeds you content you want. So if you keep on liking content that affects your mental health, you are just making these videos pop up. I use TikTok pretty often, but I use it to watch outfit videos or videos about movies. I think it has affected [my mental health] somewhat, mainly in the way that I use it a lot when I’m supposed to do my homework and also use to also watch these videos that were unhealthy but I recently have started to stop watching these videos and also being on TikTok less.

— Valeria Rodriguez, 17

The overall idea that TikTok is addictive is true. I sometimes find myself an hour later, deep into scrolling through the endless videos. Although it is addictive, I cannot say that this app has caused any depression or dangerous thoughts within me for an extended period of time. I can say that it has me jealous; sometimes I may come across a video of a person flaunting something I deeply desire such as a body type or lifestyle.

Even though there are videos like this, I find TikTok helpful for the most part. People spread important information, give advice on many topics, and spread joy. I have built my For You Page into a stream of a few personal interests and news/media videos. I am saddened to learn that they might be banned from the United States because I enjoy many of the wholesome and informational videos, but if TikTok has been involved in illegal activities, I find it justified that they be reprimanded.

The company is to blame for purposefully creating TikTok to be an addictive app, but we can also hold accountable many of the teenagers that sometimes allow themselves to be engulfed by the videos. I understand the control the social media has sometimes, but people should not allow themselves to be entertained solely through a screen. I have had my fair share of “just one more” videos and have learned to overcome the constant need to look at TikTok. Now, I am able to look at a few videos and be satisfied with just watching 10.

— Angela Taylor Ortiz, 17

>>>Teen Talk:

My Generation Is Addicted to Social Media<<<

It doesn’t affect me too much. I’m not addicted to my phone as much as others are these days. I’ll admit I sometimes use it when I’m bored or want to distract myself from the outside world. But when it comes to being serious or the moment where I have to stop using it, I will. I never use it during school secretly, and I do not use it when someone has to talk to me. However, as much as I use my phone, I don’t really go on TikTok for that long and can easily get off it and find something else to do.

TikTok has been quite a problem for many people. But I don’t think it should be banned. If mental health is a problem, or it being addictive is a problem, shouldn’t other things be banned as well? Specifically, a phone? I understand that phones can be helpful and have really been helpful for a lot of things. But a lot of these complaints about TikTok are very similar to what Instagram Reels does and YouTube shorts do. Also, phones are a major problem on their own. I can go on a lot with this topic, but instead I’ll make it short: TikTok is being sued over what other apps and even a phone itself does.

— Hector Perez, 16

>>>Is TikTok Out of Time? Teens Have Their Say<<<

I think there is a big cringe culture on TikTok, which is why some people may feel like their mental health is negatively impacted after using the app for too long. Since the app is so big and used by millions of people, it’s very easy to leave a hateful or mean comment on strangers’ videos. There are always people who will bully and make fun of others for pretty much anything.

Some people, though, feel like TikTok has a positive impact on their mental health because they are able to build communities and make friends that they wouldn’t have been able to talk to otherwise. I like TikTok because there are endless things you can watch, usually for around 60 seconds or less. I use the app almost every day. I wouldn’t recommend the app for young children, though, under the age of at least 12, because they can be exposed to many harmful things early on and develop a strong addiction that will be harder to get rid of as they get older.

— Kimberly Calles, 17

I think TikTok is not a negative impact on mental health. I feel like it depends on yourself and how you use it. Some people watch good content, and others don’t. It can, in fact, sometimes help you with your mental health such as in watching videos to pass time or to get your mind off something you keep constantly thinking about or worrying about. I use TikTok most of all the apps I have on my phone. I upload videos and watch off my For You Page. I just try to not stay on too long because it’s a bad habit.

— Rafeef Saleh, 16