Quiz time. If you want to learn more about the latest skincare product or how to make the best Chicken Alfredo, where would you locate this information? Many would start with a search engine option such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo (an independent Google alternative by the way). However, some people's first choice would be to use social media AS a search engine. Using hashtags as keywords via social media can pull in a variety of results. Try looking up #SkinCareRoutine or #HealthyRecipes on Instagram and TikTok for example, and you will see an endless array of posts and videos. 

From viewing these screenshots above, it is evident that Instagram Reels, image carousels, and TikTok videos are the dominant content produced from these particular searches. This small sampling is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the information available right at our fingertips. 

With such a large percentage of adolescents using social media as a search engine, the content shared on these channels inevitably has an impact on their everyday lives. Whether it's offering hacks, entertainment, or sharing day-in-the-life perspectives, the information communicated through social platforms is appealing to youth. This era of digital media is ever-changing, and content creation is no exception. According to an August 2022 Pew survey, 86% of teen TikTok or Snapchat users say they are on the platform daily and a quarter of teen users for both of these platforms say they are on the site or app almost constantly. Social media influencers are more prevalent and powerful than ever, ranging from celebrities to your everyday person creating user-generated content. 

An American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences study discussed how media has become a source of attraction for teenagers and young adults worldwide, focusing on the common usage of TikTok. The author, Cell Dilon, states that "trends on Tiktok are to a certain extent of questionable nature" and "it seems that the younger generation has adapted to an expressional form." Social media, and the focus of this lecture post, TikTok, gives adolescents the opportunity to identify with other users who have similar interests. User-generated media operates as a primary source of information on social media platforms, specifically TikTok. Adolescents active on TikTok share this type of user-generated messaging to socialize and stay connected. But what if this influencer culture has a negative effect on an adolescent's self-esteem and self-worth?

Is TikTok setting unrealistic expectations for physical appearances, life status, and success levels? According to Influence Marketing Hub, as of November 2022, TikTok has over 1 billion monthly active users and the app has been installed on devices three billion times. The amount of TikTok influencers is continuing to grow and gain more followers. Check out the latest top 10 list for the influencers who have the most followers. Are you familiar with, or follow, any of these accounts?

So what is it about TikTok that draws in the adolescent audience? If we refer to the top 10 accounts above we see a mix of appealing entertainment. From trending dances to humorous satire, magic, and music there is quite a blend of video content. And we also see a superstar celebrity presence here as well (unless you are living under a rock, we all know who Will Smith is). 

TikTok influencers seem to be living a glamorous lifestyle and this portrayal of perfection just doesn't equate to "normal" life. Influencer content has the potential to impact the mental and physical well-being of the adolescent community. The amount of time spent on the TikTok platform can lead to an impractical view of the type of lives that youth think they should be living. The Science Behind TikTok Brain discusses how dopamine hits can affect the mental capabilities of youth. If this age demographic continues to receive repetitive dopamine hits, it makes it harder to retract from the type of content. Continual exposure to this type of influencer content can sway their realistic views of what a typical lifestyle should represent.

"TikTok brain" doesn't seem to be a shocking revelation considering that youth can spend more than half a day on social media. The journal, Understanding the TikTok Addiction among Young Adults, discusses this prevalent social media use in more detail, but also talks about the connection between adolescent self-identity issues and TikTok usage. 

Self-identity problems can occur when trying to imitate others, like celebrities or influencers. As referenced in the New Horizons journal in the previous paragraph, people who use TikTok share their content widely and gain attention from users as much as they can. TikTok can become dangerous when it targets the adolescent audience, causing them to perform harmful and risky behaviors to get themselves into trouble (Kawabe et al. 2021). Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety can also occur from overusing TikTok, and social media in general.

However, Dilon states that from his survey results, "it is evident that the target users of TikTok are happy with the app" and that "although a large percentage has had negative experiences with the app it does not seem to deter them from using it." This is interesting, but not surprising I suppose. When adolescents are experiencing TikTok brain and are so immersed in the content, it can be hard to take a step back and really think about the root of why they feel the way they do.

Trending content appeals to adolescents. Like most TikTok videos, these are often short clips that are less than 15 seconds, and they are simplistic in nature. Trending is a term that describes popular content and sounds, relevant hashtags, and search terms. Trends do change quickly and often, and this popular content rotates on a regular, almost daily, basis. TikTok content moves at a fast speed, with influencers sharing an abundance of content. So, imagine viewing this rapidly changing content for half a day. It is easy to see how a young person's self-identity and mental health can be affected. 

With more than 1.67 billion TikTok users globally and over 1 billion videos viewed daily, it is not hard to see how popular this content is worldwide. According to data from Harnessing Youth Engagement With Mental Health TikTok and Its Potential as a Public Health Tool, as of February 2022, the hashtags #anxiety registers 11.7 billion, #ADHD 9.4 billion, #BPD 3.9 billion, #depressed 3.6 billion, #bipolar 2.1 billion, and #DID 1.5 billion views. In their study, Chochol et. al "hypothesize that a subset of youth accessing mental health TikTok content are suffering and embracing an easily accessible, relatable source - albeit flawed - of mental health education." 

Social media is an ever-changing and growing platform that shares content faster than we can track. A recent Pew Research study states that two-thirds of teens report using TikTok and "more than half of teens say it would be difficult for them to give up social media." With such prevalent use and reliance on TikTok as part of their everyday lives, how can we ensure that adolescents are consuming legitimate and accurate information? The truth is - we can't. Content shared on social media is limitless and generally unregulated. Of course, parents and guardians can set rules and limits regarding their teenager's social media use and this may prevent some effects of the platform. But, it is clear to see the growth of influencers in the social media world and further research is imperative to understanding the impact of TikTok. Regardless of how much or what kind of content is shared, one thing is certain. Our youth is affected by the content they view and absorb. The question is - how will this impact their lives now, and in the future? It seems that in this instance, time will tell.