chairmanbrando t1_j0ilj1m wrote on December 16, 2022 at 10:28 PM

Banning TikTok would apparently be one of the best things to do for mental health.

> TikTok recommends self-harm and eating disorder content to some users within minutes of joining the platform, according to a new report published Wednesday by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).

> The new study had researchers set up TikTok accounts posing as 13-year-old users interested in content about body image and mental health. It found that within as few as 2.6 minutes after joining the app, TikTok's algorithm recommended suicidal content. The report showed that eating disorder content was recommended within as few as 8 minutes.

> Over the course of this study, researchers found 56 TikTok hashtags hosting eating disorder videos with over 13.2 billion views.

The kids aren't alright. 😳

lady_lowercase t1_j0jb3ou wrote on December 17, 2022 at 1:49 AM

you’re not wrong, but it’s a bit of a weird thread to jump on this soapbox.

/r/virginia has a thread on tiktok being banned on state-owned devices if you want to share this bit there.

chairmanbrando t1_j0jciry wrote on December 17, 2022 at 2:01 AM

I came across this thread and that news post at roughly same time. They're related but not directly. Between governments (including ours) being afraid of China spying through TikTok and it's deleterious effect on our youth, it's hard to avoid talking about social media when discussing mental health. You really can't disconnect the two in this age, and Instagram is just as big a factor here as the 'Tok. I feel for kids growing up now wherein your presence on social media is expected.

batkave t1_j0kwm5u wrote on December 17, 2022 at 12:48 PM

That's any social media including Facebook and Instagram, and it's been known for some time. It does all that to adults too. Also, posing as 13 years is what they think 13 years do. Real "hello fellow kids vibes."

gif

DorkChatDuncan t1_j0jtl9w wrote on December 17, 2022 at 4:31 AM

TikTok is the social media de jour of the moment, but the problem is social media in general. TikTok does nothing worse than IG or FB did, its just the most popular. We have to teach the next generation of kids about pride in one's self and to not need the approval of random strangers on the internet. Its a complicated problem that doesn't have one solution, and banning TikTok will only kick the can down the road to the next social media platform.

chairmanbrando t1_j0jwvcs wrote on December 17, 2022 at 5:04 AM

This is true, but there's only one network based in China and promoting suicide with a vested interest in seeing our country's demise. Social media sucks, but TikTok is the worst of it.

batkave t1_j0kx4qd wrote on December 17, 2022 at 12:54 PM

Research has found the same things happen on YouTube and Instagram... It's not a china thing. To say that is just some gullible belief that is just trying to justify hatred towards a country or culture. YouTube particularly is well known for its algorithm being harmful.