What happens when a teenager signs up to TikTok? Within seconds, studies find, they are shown harmful content about issues from eating disorders to toxic subcultures, which keeps them scrolling and TikTok profiting from the ads.
Neelam Tailor puts TikTok’s algorithm to the test. Creating accounts for two fake children, a 14-year-old boy, Rami, and a 13-year-old girl, Angie, she explores the app’s ‘For You’ page to see what the platform really serves young teens, replicating two studies published in 2022 and 2024.
With insight from Dr Kaitlyn Regehr, of University College London, and Imran Ahmed, of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, this video reveals how TikTok profits by pushing vulnerable teenagers toward dangerous content, including self-harm, suicide and incel 2.0 culture
In the US, call or text Mental Health America at 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741. In the UK, the charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and Childline on 0800 1111. In Australia, support is available at Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, and at MensLine on 1300 789 978
In the US, help is available at nationaleatingdisorders.org or by calling ANAD’s eating disorders hotline at 800-375-7767. In the UK, Beat can be contacted on 0808-801-0677. In Australia, the Butterfly Foundation is at 1800 33 4673. Other international helplines can be found at Eating Disorder Hope
Parents, don’t panic – healthy screen time for children is possible, if you follow these few simple tips
