Futch, Sneller 1

Emma Futch & Laurel Sneller

Dr. Bray

March 20, 2023

Social Phenomena Project

The impact of Tik Tok in Young Adolescents

As social media’s popularity is gaining momentum worldwide, the creation of the popular

app, TikTok, has only advanced its rise. TikTok is a video sharing app that allows its users to

create, view, and share short videos. These videos range on subject matter from dance tutorials,

cooking videos, celebrity “day in my life” walk-throughs, story times etc. This platform also

allows users to share their creativity by using different filters, stickers, voiceovers, sound effects

and background noise (Geyser, 2022). TikTok currently has over 3 billion downloads, with

almost 1 billion daily users. To say this is a well loved app would be an understatement. In the

short amount of the app's existence, TikTok has been extremely successful, especially within the

young adolescent community.

While this may sound like a positive outlet for children and adults to show creativity,

express themselves and find their own community, TikTok also comes with many dangers.

Despite the variety of uplifting trends offered, other not-so-positive trends can be found on the

app. Young adolescents are at a crucial stage of development in middle school as they are

transitioning from concrete operational to formal operational ways of thinking (Piaget, 1970).

Oftentimes, these developments are easily influenced by the outside environment. As young

adolescents are advancing in their mental, physical and emotional development, there is

substantial research concluding that social media, especially TikTok, negatively influences their

development and overall health.

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Countless articles, news stories, and research studies, are surfacing about the potential

dangers of TikTok. Parents and psychologists are concerned, and rightly so (Blockty, NY Daily

News). One study conducted by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public

Health only advanced the rising wariness. This study found that young adolescents who

repeatedly use TikTok had “higher scores for depression, anxiety, and stress” (Ellenwood,

January 2022). Many other studies also agree that TikTok is a source of mental and emotional

unwellness in young adolescents. Many ask why this is. The reasons range from isolation, to

bullying, to mature content, to addictive tendencies. Parents and teachers must be educated about

these reasons so that they know the warning signs and symptoms of their children and students

spending an overabundance of time on TikTok.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) analyzed why TikTok causes

depression and anxiety in teens. A main reason is because it “can encourage more isolation and

loneliness of young people” (DBSA, July 2022). Middle school students are being closed off

from the physical world because of the amount of time spent scrolling on this app. While young

adolescents require interaction with others to develop mentally, socially and emotionally, TikTok

influences them to spend unnecessary amounts of time in isolation. Theorist, Leo Vygotsky,

stresses through his research that young adolescents require social interaction to have beneficial

development mentally, academically and socially. The journal, “Living in a Moment: Impact of

TicTok on Influencing Younger Generation into Micro-Fame'' also discusses how this app

influences the mental health of young adolescents (Jaffar, et. al). These researchers point out that

the app’s users often view depressing content frequently, and some have even experienced

cyber-bullying (Jaffar, et. al. Pg 189). Because young adolescents require personal interaction

and need to ibe surrounded with positive content, it is important for parents and teachers to do
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their part in monitoring young adolescents’ time spent scrolling on TikTok. This will result in the

betterment of students' social activity, mental health, and social development.

Not only does TikTok influence young adolescents' time spent in isolation, but it also

influences their behaviors. Viral challenges are often irresponsible, and have resulted in

destruction of others belongings. The infamous “devious licks” challenge encouraged young

adolescents and students of all ages to destroy school property. Students of all ages, middle and

high schoolers specifically, participated in this trend. Middle school counselor, Phyllis Fagell,

discussed her thoughts on Tiktok trends stating “Middle school students, in particular, are

desperate for acceptance and may make impulsive decisions to fit in” (Marples, September

2021). Teachers, parents, and community members must keep this fact in consideration when

they observe young adolescents participating in irresponsible TikTok trends. This will assist

them in having patience and guidance to handling the participation of said challenges.

While it is important for schools to understand TikTok challenges so they can protect

their property, it is even more crucial for adults to also understand TikTok trends in order to keep

app users safe. Challenges entitled “the skull breaker challenge”, “tide pod challenge”, “the

blackout challenge” and countless more have resulted in hospitalization for children trying to

participate. TikToks based on these challenges encourage viewers to participate; even though

there may be hints of sarcasm behind it, most young adolescents do not have the mental

development necessary to evaluate the risks of these challenges (MomJunky, January 2023).

Teachers, parents and community members must respond to this. One suggested way for schools

to react to these challenges is for schools to “make talking about TikTok challenges… a part of

digital citizenship education” (Klein, October 2022). In other words, teachers should not shy

away from discussing these challenges with their students. Teachers should also inform parents
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when dangerous challenges are trending so parents and guardians can have these discussions at

home as well.

On top of concerning trends, TikTok is also notoriously known for mature content and

themes of videos. Young adolescents are consistently exposed to adult themes like sex, drugs,

extreme depression, foul language etc. These topics are not presented in an educational light

either; many videos encourage young tweens and teens to participate in these activities in order

to fit in with their peers. Researchers found that when young adolescents are exposed to these

themes at such a young age, they can “have a huge impact on your child’s self-esteem, body

image and confidence. In some instances, it can lead to depression, anxiety, eating disorders such

as anorexia or bulimia, self-harming [and] suicide or attempting suicide” (Huziej September

2022).

Teachers should continuously be educating themselves on the negative impacts of

TikTok, popular trends, and warning signs of these effects in young adolescents. The number of

resources available for educators to understand this app and its impacts on teens is continuing to

grow. Mainstream news sources, like CNN, Fox, and NY Times have multiple informative and

research based articles about the potential dangers of TikTok. Other resources like research

studies, blogs, videos, and websites specifically designed for educators are helpful as well. It is

the middle level educators’ responsibility to understand the influence of TikTok on young

adolescents so they can better support them, their families, and the community inside and outside

the classroom.

In conclusion, TikTok clearly has a negative impact on young adolescents. Not only does

it encourage them to spend ample amounts of time in isolation, but it exposes them to mature

content not fit for a young teen to witness. The isolation from others causes depression and lack
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of social development. Mature content causes students to make unwise decisions, like

participating in harmful challenges, can cause anxiety, and can start eating disorders. Overall, the

negative influences TikTok has on young adolescents is incredibly concerning. Because of these

potential outcomes, educators, parents, and community members must continuously work to

make themselves aware of the dangers of this app.

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