Teens Are Self-Diagnosing on TikTok, and That’s a Problem
Self-diagnosing is becoming a risky trend among young people on TikTok. This is essentially the next form of self-diagnosis for the upcoming generation. I’m sure many of you will have heard about “Dr. Google”. That was what we had before “Dr. TikTok” came along — going onto Google and typing your symptoms into search was common for a large number of people, despite being advised continuously by health care professionals not to do just that.
TikTok has seen a skyrocketing surge in popularity. The video clip sharing app is now used by so many people, particularly young people. TikTok has been lauded for starting conversations around mental health and that is a good thing. It is great that people are finding a place to connect and share around the topic of mental health. Young people being able to go onto the app and get support from their peers is a great thing to see.
Unfortunately we are also seeing a line being crossed as teens and young adults have started taking to diagnosing themselves with medical illnesses. Have you ever seen these really stupid videos with the title to the effect of, “Five signs you may have ADHD!”, which then goes to give five really vague symptoms that really have very little to do with any kind of diagnosis at all.
Within the last year, teens have self-diagnosed a range of illnesses such as ADHD, OCD, Autism, Depression…and any kind of mental illness you could think of really.
There is a barrier where worlds are colliding right here. The benefit of these TikTok videos is that they are bringing awareness to the conversation around mental health. They are fostering a sense of community and acceptance around mental health in the next generation.
However, these videos have also opened the spread of misinformation and the videos themselves are leading teens and young adults to diagnose themselves. I don’t for one moment blame the kids watching these clips and thinking they have these illnesses. I blame the creators who are trying to leverage people on social media knowing that the user is the product.
This is where those worlds collide, awareness and removing the stigma around mental health is incredibly beneficial and a good thing. But the armchair experts who try to give advice or lead people towards self-diagnosing while they have no medical experience — that is a real issue we are going to face now and moving forward.
TikTok Truths
- Research the creators who are making these videos on social media sites such as TikTok. Don’t take their content just at face value.
- You cannot make a self-diagnosis on social media. Never attempt to diagnose yourself using online sources or otherwise. A diagnosis can and must only be made by the appropriate health care professional.
- Remember that social media is NOT therapy! While you may feel accepted in a part of a community on TikTok — it is not therapy and should not be used in place of therapy. If you are having mental health concerns, you should seek therapy with a qualified counsellor or therapist.
- If you feel like TikTok is having an impact on how you feel in day-to-day life then you need to seek help from an appropriate healthcare provider.
Final Thoughts
We know that the upcoming generation is very much connected online. Our current generations have become very connected online too! Social media can be more of a stress and strain on mental health than we may realise. Yes, it can foster a sense of connection but it can also be a tool where kids face judgement and bullying.
If a child is having mental health symptoms or claims they have a mental health condition, they need to seek help from the appropriate professional who will be able to help them.
Getting an official diagnosis is the best way of moving forward with an effective treatment plan which will help in the long term. TikTok is not the appropriate space for serious mental health assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
