Tiktok has become a global sensation over the last few years, becoming one of the top-ranked and most influential social media platforms in the world. Everyday billions of people log into the app to keep up with the latest trends, fashion styles, and influencers; just under half of these people being under the age of 18. The effect in which this app has had on teens has shown to be both positive and negative.
While Tiktok has benefits such as teaching useful information and keeping people up-to-date with trends, there are also negative aspects. These include the following: the spreading of misinformation, increase in comparison, and impact on mental health. Teens especially are more likely to experience the negative effect of Tiktok, as they are influenced easier than most adults.
Sophie Grant, a sophomore, shared, “I feel like it teaches me bad habits like comparing things I have with what others have. On Tiktok, you can see a lot of the nice things that people get and sometimes you feel jealous of what others have. It can bring you down, even though you’re grateful for what you have.”
Comparison is one of the worst effects Tiktok has on teenagers, as it can strongly impact their well-being. People purposely display their lives in an unrealistic way that makes them seem perfect across social media. When younger audiences see these posts, they often get jealous or start comparing themselves to others. It can really affect a teens mental health, as they feel they aren’t as good as who they see online.
The decrease in teens’ mental health has become a main problem due to Tiktok. According to AAP News in 2023, 40% of teens have felt either sad or depressed, with some even considering thoughts of attempting suicide. This percent has risen greatly around the time when Tiktok became popular, showing a correlation between the two.
To further see the influence in which Tiktok has, we asked Grant admitted that TikTok does have an impact on some decisions she makes day to day.
“Tiktok has influenced me to buy many things. When a lot of people start getting a certain piece of clothing, I am very influenced to get it just to be like everyone else,” Grant responded.
If someone sees a person that they follow or admire buy or do something, they’re likely to do the same in order to be like them. Clothing is a great example of this. If someone sees that everyone is wearing a certain outfit online, most likely they will end up buying it to relate to those they see on Tiktok. While this does increase the need to be like others, it also helps to keep people updated on what’s popular and the different fun trends.
While there are many negative effects of Tiktok, there are also positive benefits. For instance, the app can help to inspire teens to be more productive. When you see someone else doing a productive activity, it will inspire you to want to do the same!
Caitlyn Geoghegan, a junior, shared, “Tiktok influences me positively by what I watch. When my page has productive and motivating content, it inspires me. I learn what is going on in the world through Tiktok, instead of watching the news.”
Through Tiktok there are updates about what’s going on in the world in just a matter of seconds. When you search for specific events, different reels and posts on the topic will pop up and give you all the information you need! Realistically, teens aren’t very interested in watching the news and waiting for a topic of interest. When they can easily and quickly access all the information they want on a topic, they are more likely to do so. Tiktok, therefore, helps to inspire teens to become more interested with world news.
There are both pros and cons of Tiktok and the influence it has on teens.
Geohegan also shared, “I feel like I am more negatively influenced by Tiktok. Although I enjoy scrolling on Tiktok, I have realized I am consuming useless content and wasting time scrolling and watching other people’s life, instead of creating memories in my own life.”
It’s okay to keep up with trends and use the app every now and then for updates, but it is good to consider taking breaks when using Tiktok for a long period of time. Try your best to create a balance!
Photo Credit: Google
