‘TikTok has changed how children consume social media as it is now endless.’

Delta Digital News Service

April 4, 2024

Laila Casiano | Contributor

JONESBORO, Ark. – Amidst a unanimous decision by the U.S. House of Representatives to ban TikTok nationwide, mental health experts discuss concerns over social media’s negative impact on young people’s well-being.

     The use of TikTok created a point of contention in the United States, with national security concerns being the primary reason for its potential ban. Yet, additionally, state lawmakers raised concerns about the impact of social media, particularly TikTok, on the mental health of young people. This resulted in the implementation of age parental consent policies. However, the importance to question whether TikTok specifically is a genuine concern for young people’s mental health decline remains crucial.

     “Research shows that teens are spending upwards of five plus hours a day consuming social media (such as TikTok and YouTube), and one of the most relevant links has been girls’ social media use and loss of confidence,” Daniel Wysocki, a licensed psychological examiner for Wysocki Psychological Services, said.

     Wysocki identified social media as significantly shaping the mental health of young people outside of family dynamics. According to the 2023 Girl’s Index, 57% of girls reported social media influence on their desire to change their appearance and to plummet their self-confidence by falling under social pressures to “feel pretty.”

     However, this does not just affect young girls; Wysocki advises parents to be alert to teenage boys’ growing distress with their physical appearance. 

     “In my practice, I’ve observed an increase in distress and obsession with appearance among young men compared to earlier years of my practice,” Wysocki said. 

     Wysocki said as a provider, he offers Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) testing and experienced many people coming into his clinic based on TikTok recommended videos to identify ADHD tendencies or through ADHD “hack” videos. Wysocki notes an additional positive outlook as he is also seeing young people’s social media usage encouraging teens to seek help and to learn how they can lead a promising life, reducing the stigma of asking for support/help and talking with mental health professionals about their wellness.

     “TikTok has changed how children consume social media as it is now endless,” Wysocki said. “It is no longer a connection to friends and acquaintances; it has expanded into every aspect of daily life, and they can live vicariously alongside their favorite influencer. TikTok is (still) the leader in creating an endless loop of consumable snacks.”

   Wysocki said critics may not address the root causes of mental health issues among the youth and should at least offer alternatives. 

     “There are no simple answers to most of the issues we are facing when raising our children, but free and endless access to unrestricted social media is a big enough risk to developing minds that regulation should be considered. It would be no different than a license to drive a vehicle,” Wysocki said. 

     As Wysocki highlighted the transformative nature of TikTok on social media consumption, JoAnne Powell, a licensed professional counselor from Elysian Counseling Service, discussed the nuanced complexities surrounding TikTok’s impact, emphasizing both positive and negative attributes. 

     Powell claims that connection, support, access to information, expression and creativity highlight these positive attributes of the social media app. The negatives consist of young people comparing themselves or fearing missing out (FOMO). This often manifests itself in creating an “unrealistic portrayal of life” and leads to teens feeling inadequate, inhibiting low self-esteem and FOMO.  Other negatives Powell recites are cyberbullying, addiction, distraction (decreased senses of productivity, poor sleep quality, increased feelings of loneliness and isolation) and validation seeking (manifest in difficulties in creating boundaries).

     “Teaching youth ritual thinking skills and media literacy can help them navigate social media more responsibly and discern between accurate information and harmful content,” Powell said. “While social media has the potential to positively impact the mental health of youth, it is essential to address the negative consequences and implement strategies to promote responsible and healthy usage.”

     Powell said through her professional observations, she noticed an increase in young people’s anxiety, stress, their sense of negative self-perception, and an impact on social and interpersonal relationships, which affected other social skills like trust, conflict resolution and basic communication skills. 

     In therapy sessions, Powell said exploring these observations with clients help them develop better coping strategies, build resilience and cultivate a healthier relationship with social media.

     “This may involve psychoeducation on the impact of social media on mental health, teaching stress management techniques, fostering self-compassion and promoting a balance in online and offline activities,” Powell said.

     In line with Powell’s emphasis on compressive approaches to addressing social media’s effects, Jessica Richardson, licensed clinical social worker and therapist for The Best Of You, discussed the importance of maintaining open communication and setting boundaries with youth to ensure their safety and well-being in the social media world.

     “As a therapist and parent of a teen, I understand it’s difficult to navigate that area between respecting privacy while also trying to protect them. I think that modeling appropriate behavior and interactions could be a good start,” Richardson said. “So many people behave in ways that startle me a bit on social media. I’m not sure why we would expect kids to avoid things like bullying when many adults do it.”

     Richardson said it’s important to provide education related to safety and moderation rather than rely on government regulations on certain social media platforms. Additionally, she said social media may not be the singular cause of mental health concerns and banning a specific platform isn’t going to resolve the issue. 

     “For some, the concerns might be directly related to mental health, and for others, there could just be benefits to limiting the use of screens/technology in general,” Richardson said. “I think we can acknowledge the positive aspects of being connected through social media and the creative options that it provides while also being responsible with it and its use.”

     As Richardson highlights the nuanced perspectives on social media usage, the pending decision on the national TikTok ban emphasizes the ongoing battle of balancing social media’s benefits and potential risks, like TikTok, in modern society.

     The platform’s future remains unclear until the Senate votes for the national TikTok ban, but President Joe Biden announced he would sign the bill once it is sent to him. For now, the bill resides with the Senate Commerce Committee until the six-month deadline for TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew to either sell the company from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or be banned nationwide. 

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NOTE: Feature graphic courtesy of Ampfluence