Last Updated on 22/11/2021 by Sanskriti
Finding ways to solve one’s problem, sometimes people find it easy to end their lives instead of fighting it. By making an effort, TikTok has launched a series of tools to assist users who are dealing with mental health concerns or suicidal thoughts.
Guides to wellbeing and help for those suffering from eating problems are among the characteristics. When users search for phrases like “suicide,” a search intervention function sends them to support options.
The move comes as Instagram, a competitor, faces new scrutiny over its influence on users’ well-being.
While making an announcement TikTok said, “We care deeply about our community, and we always look for new ways in which we can nurture their well-being.
“That’s why we’re taking additional steps to make it easier for people to find resources when they need them on TikTok.”
The additional resources include an updated guide on eating disorders and a function that will link users to local help, such as a Crisis Text Line if they search for phrases like suicide. TikTok, like its competitor social media sites, has come under fire for the negative influence it may have on its users’ mental health, particularly youngsters.
Heavy social media usage was deemed to be damaging to teens’ mental health in research released earlier this year by the Education Policy Institute and The Prince’s Trust.
Regardless of a young person’s mental condition, it was connected to low wellbeing and self-esteem, with more girls suffering emotions of sadness and hopelessness, according to the study. The revelation by TikTok comes as The Wall Street Journal revealed that Instagram has consistently discovered that its platform can be damaging to the mental health of its adolescent users in specific scenarios.
According to the article, the firm has been researching the app’s influence on the mental health of its younger users for at least two years. According to the article, research has consistently shown that it is detrimental to a substantial number of users, particularly adolescent females.
Instagram confirmed the existence of a study published by The Wall Street Journal in a long response, but said the piece “focuses on a limited collection of results and portrays them in a bad way.”
The social media firm also said it stood by the research and that: “It demonstrates our commitment to understanding complex and difficult issues young people may struggle with, and informs all the work we do to help those experiencing these issues.”
