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TikTok Users Seeing Harmful Mental Health Content Within Minutes

It can take just 20 minutes for a child to encounter harmful mental health content through TikTok. T...
Ellen Butler
Ellen Butler

9:48 AM - 7 Nov 2023



TikTok Users Seeing Harmful Me...

News

TikTok Users Seeing Harmful Mental Health Content Within Minutes

Ellen Butler
Ellen Butler

9:48 AM - 7 Nov 2023



New research reveals some startling figures.

It can take just 20 minutes for a child to encounter harmful mental health content through TikTok.

Two new reports from Amnesty International are warning the app can lead teenagers down a rabbit hole of self harm.

After five to six hours on the platform, almost one in two videos were mental health-related and potentially harmful.

Lisa Dittmer from Amnesty says some teenagers can get stuck in a negative 'For You' page that can damage their mental health;

"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 feeed that dicuss, romanticise and even encourage depressive thoughts, self-harm and suicide."

They found that the business model is "inherently abusive" and puts users engagement ahead of their health and wellbeing.



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Amnesty Lisa Dittmer Mental Health TikTok Young People

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