TikTok it is increasingly establishing itself as one of the most important social networks in the world. It is not just a fad: now registered users have exceeded the billion, a milestone that delivers the app of ByteDance to history. But although the importance of TikTok be there for all to see, there are still few studies on the effects of social media and its Challenges on the salute. Especially the younger ones, who represent a large slice of the TikTok audience.
TikTok: Researchers want to study its health effects
In this last year we have repeatedly talked about the effect of Instagram and its algorithms on the physical and mental health of adolescents. They even talked about it in a hearing in the US Senate, after the ex-employee’s complaints Frances Haugen. Media attention (or at least that of generalist newspapers) came after discovering that Facebook (now Meta) had not published a study on the effects of social media on children’s health. But maybe for TikTok this attention may come early compared to what we saw with Meta.
Indeed Marco Zeno, a researcher at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, recently spoke with The Verge about the need for study the impact of TikTok. “The platform is so huge but there is no academic investigation into it.”
Zeno thinks that it should be analyzed immediately the social impact e on mental health of the platform. Researching the possible occurrence of phenomena notorious on social networks, such as eating disorders in adolescents or the spread of conspiracy theories.
For this he and some colleagues have presented a research agenda on what they would like to analyze. From the use of alcohol and electronic cigarettes on the platform to the medical advice given on the platform, passing through guidelines for moderation. But also on the mental impact of see your own personal video go viral. “The research is far behind, considering how much reach the platform has,” explains Zenone.
Public health analysis
In his interview with The Verge, Zenone points out that having over a billion users around the world, such as platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, puts the focus on TikTok in the area of public health. It is not about demonizing or attacking a social network because it is not understood. It means assess the impact of one of the largest social networks in the world.
His other platforms Researchers have already seen the impact of advertising by some pseudo-scientific health products. Or of products whose effects are still little known in the medium to long term, such as electronic cigarettes. And more of medical advice data from unqualified people, which can often lead to misinformation and even dangerous practices.
Also the theme of disinformation it’s something we’re studying extensively on other platforms like Facebook and Instagram, but less so in social videos like TikTok. The fear is that the problems in moderation already seen on the platforms of the Meta group will emerge.
The importance of discovering the health effects of TikTok
The main difference from other social networks is that “TikTok really has the opportunity to learn from Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms “. So researchers know which problems are most likely to arise and can analyze risk factors.
The other big difference is the average age of the users. On TikTok there is a large percentage of very young, which makes the platform’s risk analysis even more important.
TikTok has already demonstrated in the past that it pays attention to the topic of mental health on its platform. For example, in September he has rest available mental health resources of users. Also on the subject of disinformation, he wanted to be proactive, for example by immediately activating the WHO account and directing users to authoritative information on vaccines.
But the best way to learn about a topic, even one as large as TikTok, is to apply the scientific method. So academic research could ensure that we are learning from our mistakes (but above all who manages the social platforms for us is doing it). Understanding the critical issues allows both users and TikTok itself to understand how to improve. Trying to build a tomorrow in which social networks stop scary, and remain only one fun way to promote yourself, connect with friends. And let the boredom go with a few minutes on your smartphone.