Nowadays, social media offers numerous conveniences that enhance daily life;

however, certain issues remain inadequately addressed. Tiktok was once praised as
a boom in the world’s social media, but is now considered to bring negative
impacts on young people’s psychology. In China, the number of TikTok daily
active users has already surpassed 150 million, with over 300 million monthly
active users (Tham et al, 2022). A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center
indicates that 48% of TikTok users in the United States say they have been inspired
to create their own content (Louise, 2023). These statistics give us an overview of
Tik Tok's user base, which demonstrates for the spread of this social media around
the world. Although the positive effects and the conviniences of Tiktok are
popularly spread all over the globe, Tiktok has been associated with numberous
adverse impacts on the youth, including addiction, cyberbullying, and asignificant
influence on the psychological well-being of secondary school students, a
particularly vulnerable age group using Tiktok without supervision can lead to
negative psychological impacts on secondary school students, especially increased
anxiety depression, addiction, and effects on Self-Esteem.

The mental health of secondary school students has been significantly impacted by
the ongoing development and evolution of social media platforms such as TikTok.
Depression and anxiety are experiencing a significant increase in prevalence and
may evolve into unmanageable conditions in the forthcoming years. This
constitutes a critical matter that warrants comprehensive consideration. Since a
young person’s brain is still developing, they may be more susceptible to the
addictive features within social media apps (Motley, 2024). Miao et al showed in
2023 that one of the most concerning impacts of TikTok is the rise in anxiety and
depression among secondary school students, often attributed to the platform's
addictive nature and the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards. Letting
secondary school students use TikTok without supervision from parents can lead to
consequences such as anxiety and depression. According to Ethan and Catherine in
2024, TikTok is a relatively new social media network that allows users to "heart"
and remark on other people's postings in addition to creating and sharing short
movies with different effects. Short video content makes us increasingly impatient
with important events and sometimes affects each person's lifestyle. Ethan and
Catherine found that TikTok is a relatively new platform, which is why research on
it is limited. As social media use is especially prevalent among students, a
population characterized by poor mental health and a higher susceptibility to
developing psychiatric illnesses. This is the rationale behind the necessity for
parental supervision of their children while engaging with TikTok. The latest
TikTok statistics show that, as of July 2022, the platform has over one billion
monthly active users worldwide (Zheng, 2023). In the US, 62% of TikTok users are
aged between 10 and 29 (Zheng, 2023). TikTok has experienced a substantial
increase in prominence among young people, particularly in the context of the
COVID-19. This trend is particularly pronounced among students, who, due to
school closures, have found themselves engaging with TikTok on a daily basis.
Because of the easy availability of short videos and the rapid and intensive
stimulation caused by a video of about 15s to teenagers, teenagers are gradually
addicted to Tiktok (Zheng, 2023). The concerning prevalence of mental illness and
suboptimal health among students is particularly worrisome, especially in light of
the escalating incidence of illness at an earlier stage of life as secondary school
students. According to research by Miao, Jing, Ru, Yunpeng, and Haibo in 2023,
Out of the total sample, 199 participants (14.8%) reported that they did not use any
short video platforms, while 1147 participants (85.2%) reported that they did. And
according to that research, using Tiktok too much will lead to depression and
anxiety, this impacts of Tiktok must be considered for a long time research.
Although TikTok serves as a source of entertainment and a means to connect with
others, its unsupervised use may lead to addiction and the development of deviant
behaviors. According to the research by Demelash in 2023, TikTok's algorithmic
reinforcement and platform design have been identified as key factors contributing
to addictive behaviors among secondary school students, significantly impacting
their psychological health. The app's interface, with its endless stream of content
and frequent notifications, is engineered to capture and retain users' attention,
leading to compulsive usage (Ethan and Catherine, 2024). These designs are poised
to create an immersive experience that captivates the user's attention, making it
increasingly difficult for them to disengage. Another study on TikTok addiction
showed students, such as Miao, Jing, Ru, Yunpeng, and Haibo in 2023, revealing
that it has an extremely negative impact on personal life. A student of Nasarawa
State University, Keffi, identified as Miao Chao, said she had a decrease in
academic performance due to the longtime on TikTok, and it also affected her
results and psychological health. Jing Lei, a college student in Nigeria, experienced
feelings of isolation and depression from excessive use, showing how the platform
can intrude on social life and mental health. Ru He, a university student in the
Netherlands, struggled with procrastination and a series of stressors, illustrating
how TikTok can interfere with academic life. Yunpeng Jiang, a Chinese student,
got into a habit of staying up late to watch TikTok videos, considerably losing
sleep and cognitive functions. For example, Haibo Yang, a college student in the
United States, used TikTok as an unhealthy coping mechanism that always led to
much more anxiety and depression. These testimonials underline the many-sided
effects of TikTok addiction on students in their academic performance, mental
health, social interactions, and general well-being.

The pervasive influence of TikTok on self-esteem and body image among

secondary school students is a critical concern. Many users experience negative
self-perception due to constant exposure to idealized images and lifestyles (Zheng,
2023). This phenomenon is exacerbated by the prevalence of beauty filters, editing
tools, and the glorification of certain body types, which can lead to unrealistic
standards and poor self-image (Demelash, 2023). These editing features enable
users to present an idealized version of themselves, often unattainable in reality,
which can significantly impact viewers' perceptions of their own worth and
appearance. Social comparisons on TikTok have a great psychological effect, as
students are constantly measuring themselves against seemingly perfect influencers
(Miao et al,2023). This may breed constant feelings of inadequacy and low self-
esteem among users because they feel that they do not measure up to set standards
by these influencers. For example, Ethan Ramsden&Catherine (2024) have pointed
out how the platform can make young users feel unsuccessful by comparing their
achievements with the exaggerated success stories of others. Such comparisons
could further be damaging to the self and identity of young users who are still
forming themselves. Issues of peer pressure are increasingly present and affect the
psychology of secondary school students Case studies from students such as Miao
et al., 2023 further illustrate the adverse effects of TikTok on self-esteem and body
image. These attest to the great need for interventions that will focus on the
influence of social media on the mental health of secondary school students.
Therefore, it is the consideration of utmost priority for teachers, parents, and
policymakers to regard this situation in a serious way and start introducing such
interventions that would foster positive self-image and mental health among young
internet users. These might include educational programs for teaching media
literacy and critical assessment of social media content and support systems for
students with body image and self-esteem problems.
In conclusion, Tiktok has become a powerful breakthrough in social networks but
also causes many negative psychological impacts to secondary school students.The
constant exposure to curated content, relentless comparisons, and the pressure to
maintain a certain online persona can contribute to increased anxiety, depression,
addiction, and negative impacts on self-esteem. It is imperative for parents,
educators, and mental health professionals to be aware of these potential risks and
to provide guidance and support to young people navigating the complexities of
social media platforms. Families and schools need to have supervision when using
social media such as TikTok. By understanding the psychological mechanisms at
play, we can develop strategies to mitigate the negative consequences of TikTok
and promote the well-being of secondary school students.

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Lin, Z. (2023b). Analysis of the psychological impact of TikTok on contemporary teenagers.

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