In a concerning revelation, new research by Amnesty International has shed light on the disturbingly swift exposure of children to harmful mental health content on the popular social media platform, TikTok. According to the findings, it can take as little as 20 minutes for a child to encounter such content while browsing the app.
Amnesty International’s reports highlight that TikTok can potentially lead teenagers down a perilous rabbit hole of self-harm and depressive thoughts. After spending five to six hours on the platform, nearly one in two videos viewed were related to mental health and could be potentially harmful.
Lisa Dittmer, a representative from Amnesty International, warns that some teenagers may become ensnared in a negative “For You” page, which can severely damage their mental health. Dittmer explained, “Most dangerous really, when a young user signals an interest in mental health-related content, they’re at risk of being drawn into rabbit holes of video after video in their For You feed that discuss, romanticize, and even encourage depressive thoughts, self-harm, and suicide.”
Amnesty International’s research further suggests that TikTok’s business model prioritizes user engagement over their health and well-being, characterizing it as “inherently abusive.”
This alarming discovery underscores the urgent need for greater safeguards and parental awareness regarding children’s use of social media platforms like TikTok.