Social Media Project by Harper Lethcoe

The mental health awareness has been spreading, but that does not help the fact that we are still addicted.

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 15:58:31 UTC

"A benefit of TikTok is its effect on mental health – primarily through building community. With mental health being a popular subject on TikTok, there is no shortage of mental health content. These topical videos are dubbed with names like “ADHDtok” and “depressiontok.” Because of its algorithm, TikTok feeds people videos they will likely relate to. Because of this, many people dealing with the same mental health struggles often find a sense of community or feelings of camaraderie on the platform." We may be spreading awareness, but the addiction to TikTok itself is not being shared, as the app doesn't want you to realize what it's doing to you.

TikTok shortens your attention span.

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 16:00:25 UTC

"A 2021 study suggests that short-video watching of personalized and enjoyable content may be a perfect recipe for addiction-like behaviors. As one continues to watch video after video of immersive, relatable content, it can be hard to shift attention away from this content. This inability to “switch off” is because the reward center of one’s brain is continuously activated when exposed to this kind of content. During adolescence, these reward centers of the brain are very active, which can make it even more difficult for teens to turn away. Research suggests these behaviors can be troublesome for brain development and may result in difficulties finishing activities that require sustained attention." Tiktok has reduced our attention span. It has normalized catching our attention with a video from 20 seconds to a minute. I have noticed this along with many others, such as the people who wrote the article. It's hard to put down your phone for more than a second, not knowing what to focus your brain on.

Tiktok can influence your sleep schedule, impacting it negatively.

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 16:01:21 UTC

“The addictive and all-consuming nature of TikTok often leads teenagers, who are still learning discipline and self-control, to stay up late watching videos, which can disrupt their sleep patterns. Not to mention, the blue light emitted by screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep.”

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 16:02:40 UTC

Any kid who is concerned about what other people think about them can compare themselves to their virtual friends with how many likes others have, or how many followers. That can cause lots of anxiety, along with depression. TikTok should remove the like button, helping our issues.

My Sources:

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 16:04:06 UTC

TikTok and Youth Mental Health: Weighing the Pros and Cons - Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

https://nddtreatment.com/the-negative-impact-of-tiktok-on-the-mental-health-of-teenagers/

https://parentandteen.com/tiktok-and-mental-health-youth-perspective/

Additional video to the physchology of TikTok being addicted.

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 16:04:40 UTC

harperlethcoe — 2025-02-04 16:05:21 UTC