HEALTHY MIND MATTERS

TikTok and social media can distort mental health information for teens

May 27, 2022, 2:38 PM | Updated: Feb 13, 2023, 2:47 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Teens, just like adults can find themselves scrolling through video after social-media video.

The billion — yes billion — users on TikTok are primarily teens and some mental health professionals have stated the platform is negatively impacting the mental health crisis.

Maddie Kennedy, 16, is like many other teens.

“I’m on a lot. I’ll search up makeup tutorials,” she said.

TikTok seems to read her mind. Her interest in beauty tips and movie clips fills her feed with similar content. Licensed clinical social worker Jessica Holzbauer, with Huntsman Mental Health Institute said she sees teens with social feeds filled with heavy topics — like mental illness.

“I would say the vast majority of adolescents that I work with are using TikTok on a daily basis,” Holzbauer said.

TikTok’s algorithm’s can create a problem. Click on a video and that same topic will get served to the user over and over. For Kennedy, it’s mostly harmless with things like makeup brushes or ways to apply cosmetics. But for some, what is viewed can warp perception.

“The typical ups-and-downs of life can get pathologized where people self diagnose into something that’s not really there,” Holzbauer said. That could include depression or suicidal thoughts.

One recently trending topic is MPD or multiple personality disorder.

“By watching content that is either exaggerated or maybe makes a mountain out of a molehill about having multiple personalities when that’s not actually what’s going on,” Holzbauer said.

She said it’s normal for teens to try on different identities as they mature, but if someone tries to form an identity around mental illness, it could perpetuate more extreme forms of mental illness.

Maddie’s mother Melanie Kennedy worries constantly about the influence of social media in her daughter’s life.

“I think the scary thing for parents nowadays is our kids have, in their hands, information and influence that is out of our control,” Melanie Kennedy said.

Holzbauer said there are things parents can do when a child turns to TikTok for answers on sensitive subjects.

“It’s open-ended questions,” she said. “Seeking to understand, asking for more information so that you can read between the lines as well.”

Melanie Kennedy agrees.

“There have been times where Maddie will come and have conversations about things that might be uncomfortable but that is the only thing that I think can protect our kids when they have the influence of these.”

Holzbauer said that discomfort comes from parents who don’t understand the strong influences of social media because they didn’t have it when they were young.

“This is uncharted territory, so adults don’t have a great frame of reference. Adults don’t have a good life experience with social media.”

That makes open communication more important.

“We have to try that much harder, as parents…Their value, their worth, has nothing to do with this. They are important just the way they are.”

While Holzbauer is glad to see an emphasis on mental health, she doesn’t think the best information about it is found on TikTok. She also reminded parents and teens that it takes a trained professional to diagnose and treat someone with mental illness. A first step for parents can be reaching out to a child’s primary care physician.

KSL 5 TV Live

Healthy Mind Matters

Group is walking to Wendover for suicide preventin and awareness...

Ayanna Likens

100-mile walk to Wendover raises awareness for suicide prevention

Several Utahns are taking part in the annual 100-mile walk to Wendover from Tooele City to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

11 months ago

(KSL TV)...

Ayanna Likens

Why bipolar episodes tend to rise in the spring

The change of seasons can be really hard for people who struggle with their mental health. Winter months can lead to more depression, and the shift to spring can lead to more bipolar episodes.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Jed Boal

Today is Teen Mental Wellness Day – here’s ways to help your teen

Teenagers who are struggling with their mental health are not always eager or ready to reach out for help. Thursday is Teen Mental Wellness Day, so we wanted to share some ideas with teens and parents who are seeking answers.

1 year ago

A recent NAMI study shows that African American and Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than w...

Ayanna Likens

Study: African American and Black adults are more likely to suffer from mental illness than white adults

A recent NAMI study shows that African American and Black adults in the U.S. are more likely than white adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Lauren Steinbrecher

St. George mom shares warning after FBI sees rise in sextortion scams targeting teen boys

A St. George mom is sharing a warning for other parents, as the FBI says it's seeing a huge rise in teens targeted in sextortion scams.

1 year ago

Follow @KSL5TVLike us on Facebook...

Karah Brackin

Students across Utah come together to learn the importance of mental health care

Mental health, wellness and suicide prevention — they're all big topics of conversation, and more and more, those conversations include our kids. That's where Hope Squad is coming in to help.

1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

Stack of old laptops with dark background...

PC Laptops

Old Laptop Upgrades You Need to Try Before Throwing it Away

Get the most out of your investment. Try these old laptop upgrades before throwing it out to keep it running fast and efficient.

Happy diverse college or university students are having fun on their graduation day...

BYU MBA at the Marriott School of Business

How to Choose What MBA Program is Right for You: Take this Quiz Before You Apply!

Wondering what MBA program is right for you? Take this quiz before you apply to see if it will help you meet your goals.

Close up of an offset printing machine during production...

Les Olson IT

Top 7 Reasons to Add a Production Printer to Your Business

Learn about the different digital production printers and how they can help your company save time and money.

vintage photo of lighting showroom featuring chandeliers, lamps, wall lights and mirrors...

Lighting Design

History of Lighting Design | Over 25 Years of Providing Utah With the Latest Trends and Styles

Read about the history of Lighting Design, a family-owned and operated business that paved the way for the lighting industry in Utah.

Fiber Optical cables connected to an optic ports and Network cables connected to ethernet ports...

Brian Huston, CE and Anthony Perkins, BICSI

Why Every Business Needs a Structured Cabling System

A structured cabling system benefits businesses by giving you faster processing speeds and making your network more efficient and reliable.

notebook with password notes highlighted...

PC Laptops

How to Create Strong Passwords You Can Actually Remember

Learn how you can create strong passwords that are actually easy to remember! In a short time you can create new ones in seconds.

TikTok and social media can distort mental health information for teens