Social media and mental health topics often go hand in hand. While, in some ways, it can help us maintain connections with others, it can also open the doors to many problems. TikTok (a popular social media platform) lets users upload short videos on a multitude of topics, from pop culture to trending topics and other issues. One of the biggest topics trending on TikTok for teenagers is mental health. While these videos can serve as a helpful tool to enable teenagers to learn more about various mental health conditions and receive support, they may also be using these videos to diagnose themselves with various conditions like autism, anxiety and depression. Misdiagnosing oneself with a mental illness comes with a host of issues, including not receiving the correct forms of treatment and a decline in self-esteem.
Are TikTok Videos Really Reliable?
While some creators provide valuable information and insight on mental health, not all of them are accurate. Many creators use the platform to share firsthand experiences of their mental health struggles, too. While these can be helpful videos, they may not always provide true and reliable information. It’s important to talk with your teens about the differences between these videos and watch such content carefully. Tell them to ask themselves if the creators they watch provide evidence for the claims they make and if their opinions are only based on their own experiences. Some creators receive payments from outside companies. It’s important to question whether the creator receives payment from a company that may influence their content.
The Pitfalls of Self-Diagnosis
Diagnosing oneself with a mental health condition comes with risks. Although there are reputable mental health professionals on TikTok, there are also plenty of content creators who don’t have the credentials or knowledge to speak accurately about various mental health conditions. Not only do these sources vary in reliability and accuracy, but providing a correct diagnosis requires advanced training and context. For example, while someone may experience normal fluctuations in mood throughout the day, they may not necessarily qualify for a depression diagnosis.
Furthermore, while there is a chance your teen may accurately diagnose themselves with a specific condition, the odds are that what they are experiencing is something else entirely. Treatable heart palpitations may be misconstrued for anxiety, while depression may be symptomatic of an underlying thyroid problem. Distinguishing between each diagnostic category is tricky, and some symptoms are part of multiple disorders, which is why getting a mental health diagnosis from someone qualified is vital to ensure your teen receives the appropriate treatment.
TikTok, Teens and a Need To Feel Validated
Despite its shortcomings, teens using TikTok as a tool to diagnose themselves is not the only reason it has become such a popular social media platform. Many teens are looking for validation and recognition. Some may feel that identifying with a mental health condition provides a way for them to give their struggles real meaning.
Teenagers have always compared themselves to others to see how they measure up. However, before social media, their peer group was constrained to only those within their daily lives. With social media, images of other people “living their best life” through an endless social media scroll only makes teenagers feel inadequate. Many professionals believe there is a link between social media use and mental health among young adults. One particular study found that tweens and teens between 12 to 15 years of age who spent at least three hours per day on social media are at an increased risk of having or developing mental health concerns.
Connecting With Others Through Self-Diagnosis
However, while social media may offer teenagers novel ways to feel inadequate, it also provides them a way to connect with others who are going through similar struggles. This may often be the case with teenagers who feel the adults in their lives are unwilling to open up and talk about mental health disorders. Some teens self-diagnose to connect with communities of others feeling the same way.
The teenage years are already a window of time where adolescents are experiencing many high-intensity emotions. These emotions can be unnerving, affecting their sense of identity. They may wonder if what they are experiencing is simply “growing pains” or part of an actual mental health disorder. In many cases, these teens may be experiencing the normal range of emotions that are part of growing up instead of a mood disorder that may carry significant consequences. By mislabeling themselves with a mood disorder, it may even make their worlds smaller as they go and look for friend groups based on what they are feeling or how they identify.
What To Do Next if Your Teen Approaches You With a Self-Diagnosis
While some parents may be quick to brush off their teen’s self-diagnosis, it’s important to appear curious and validate their feelings as much as possible. Refrain from being dismissive or judgemental of what they are saying. Stay open to what they tell you and offer to watch some of the videos with them so you can get an idea of the content they’re viewing. Make sure to praise them and tell them you’re on their side. Ask them why these videos resonate with them and what they may be experiencing that concerns them.
Finally, ask them if they are open to speaking with a mental health care professional. The self-diagnosis label your teen has placed on themselves can tell you a lot about what they may be struggling with, whether it’s self-esteem issues or difficulties at school. By seeing someone who can provide them with an accurate diagnosis, they can truly discover whether or not they have a mental health disorder and receive the help that they need if they do.
Navigating the teenage years is tricky and comes with its own share of challenges. As a parent, it’s important to help guide your child towards positive resources on mental health for teens. By maintaining open communication with your child and refraining from dismissing their concerns, they will continue to be more likely to come to you with other important issues in the future.
