(CNN) – In just five years, TikTok has over 1 billion users worldwide.
With the world’s eyes glued to endless content and viral videos, last month the U.S. government, along with more than a dozen states, banned TikTok on most federal devices, creating a national security threat to its Chinese parent company. concerns and how it may put pressure on them. TikTok hands over personal data.
There is no public evidence that the Chinese government has done so, but there is evidence of another risk. That’s the impact of social media on mental health, especially among Generation Z.
“Since 2012, teenage depression started to rise, as did self-harm and suicide,” says Dr. Gene Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University.
Twenge says that as smartphones and social media have grown, rates of depression among teens have also increased, nearly doubling between 2004 and 2019.
By 2019, one in four teenage girls in the United States experienced clinical depression, according to Twenge.
“There are videos that encourage anorexia and there are videos that tell people how to cut themselves. It’s a way to make more money,” Twenge said.
In a statement, TikTok said, “One of our most important commitments is to support the safety and well-being of teenagers, and we recognize that this work is never ending. We will continue to focus on robust security protections for our community while giving parents more control over their teens’ accounts through TikTok Family Pairing.”
Last year, TikTok users spent an average of 1.5 hours on the app each day. That’s more than any other social platform.
Emerald Goldbaum, a sophomore at the University of Buffalo, says she doesn’t realize how much time has passed.
“When you watch one video, it’s like, ‘Time to watch another video.’ It’s a cycle,” she said.
Jerome Yankee says his time on TikTok has made him sleep deprived and underperforming.
“I definitely stayed up all night on TikTok, scrolling until the sun came up,” says Yankey.
He also says he’s lost touch with friends and a sense of himself, deleting the app in 2021.
“Disappointment in your life is never something you want to do, especially when you have the power to change it. said the Yankee.
Hannah Williams proves the positive side of TikTok. This has allowed her to launch her business, Salary Transparent Street, which provides salary transparency to her approximately 1 million followers.
“I think TikTok has definitely helped me just because it allows me to reach potential audiences,” says Williams.
She wants TikTok’s algorithm to work in her favor.
“The only reason I’m doing this is to help people and marginalized communities. That’s my mission,” Williams said.
In July, TikTok announced it was introducing a new way to filter out “potentially problematic” videos.
Recently, we also launched a tool that helps users decide how much time they spend in their apps.
Copyright 2023 CNN News Source. all rights reserved.
