Today, TikTok has long ceased to be just a platform for dancing and memes. For many, especially the youth, it has become an informal 'advisor' on mental health. The social network's algorithm quickly adapts to the user's interests, creating a personalized feed that holds attention longer than videos of cats, sports, or music.
Research Shows How It Works
According to a study by The Washington Post, mental health videos are stickier than other types of content. A few views of clips about ADHD, anxiety, or neurodiversity turn the feed into a personal encyclopedia of psychology. However, the quality of this advice is not always reliable: about half of popular ADHD videos contain inaccurate or oversimplified information.
When the Algorithm Knows You Better Than You Know Yourself
An example of one girl showed that TikTok can hold attention: initially, the videos helped her understand her own difficulties and seek medical help, but then the feed began to suggest increasingly strange and alarming content. To remove one viewed cat video, it takes 1.3 skips, while to 'erase' a mental health video, it takes 2.2 skips.
Social Media as the New 'Google Doctor'
Many young people turn to social media for information about ADHD, anxiety, autism, and other emotional states, as access to psychotherapists is limited. However, the popularity of videos does not guarantee their accuracy, and some advice may be perceived as a diagnosis, even when it concerns habits or personality traits.
When a Joke Becomes Dangerous
Videos like 'typical habits of people with ADHD' gain millions of views. Users begin to see symptoms of disorders in themselves, complicating actual treatment and sometimes increasing anxiety.
TikTok and Therapy: Why They Sometimes Conflict
People come to doctors with the belief that they have a specific disorder based on social media content. Symptoms blend with what they have seen, making diagnosis difficult. Some users notice that videos about OCD or autism symptoms do not calm them but rather heighten their anxiety, forcing them to take breaks from the app.
Why This Happens
- The algorithm is optimized for attention retention, not accuracy.
- Users watching psychology content spend more time in the app.
- Emotional content elicits a more active response.
TikTok offers 'Not interested' features, keyword filtering, and the ability to 'reset' the algorithm, but mental health topics are not included in these settings.
How Users Should Act
Psychologists recommend perceiving TikTok as entertaining and educational content, not as a source of medical conclusions. It can inspire seeking help, showing that you are 'not alone', but it does not replace a specialist. It is important to actively seek other content, 're-educate' the algorithm, and sometimes bring lighter topics back into the feed, such as cats and animals.
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