Mental health and social networks – Tik Tok takes action

TikTok beats Instagram to become the first social network to take action to actively protect its users from the risks they may encounter on the platform (harassment, hate, etc...). Guides, videos, self-service content but also more preventive formats. Overview of the features launched by TikTok.

Hello You,

After the recent scandal around the hashtag #anti2010, TikTok is taking the step. The social network is mobilizing to protect young people from the deviance that can appear after using this tool. And this is good news! The platform dedicated to the creative economy has announced that it has deployed several new features. Their objective? To take care of the mental health of its users and to engage a strategy towards a more ethical approach. A key role and expectations that are becoming increasingly strong vis-à-vis the companies behind these social networks that we all use every day. Passion Media has analyzed the subject for you. 

TikTok mobilizes to protect the mental health of young people!  

TikTok is taking the plunge and setting up an action plan to protect the mental health of its young users, and there are many of them, as you can see in our study Social networks, figures and trends to know in 2021, mainly minors. The first action implemented? The sharing of a wellness guide, to be found directly in its security center and dedicated mainly to parents. This guide presents many things: the concept of TikTok, the rules of confidentiality, the community rules, the family connection mode, etc. In other words, it is a kind of bridge to allow parents to understand the backstage of the platform and to be able to discuss it more easily with their children. 

Fight against harassment on social networks 

TikTok goes further and also offers a range of topics and guides to raise awareness among its users about the different issues they may encounter: harassment, depression, eating disorders, etc. These contents have been developed in partnership with key associations on each topic, and are an invitation to think about the public aspect of the content shared and the impact of each person’s actions. In other words? It’s a kind of ethical charter for the use of social networks, a way to understand their use in a more reasoned and healthy way.  

Active prevention on the platform

In addition to the informative content on the social network’s website, the latter is also actively raising awareness. When a user shares hashtags on subjects that may be considered sensitive (#suicide, #harassment, etc…), psychological support resources are spontaneously offered. They can then consult a wide range of videos, articles and advice. In the same logic, in case of repeated use of this type of hashtags, the platform also plans to blur the appearance of certain content in the user’s feed in order to protect them from content that may offend them.

Mental health – Instagram in the sights of justice

And if TikTok advances on the subject, it is not by chance. Guaranteeing security, privacy, and respect for community rules on the platform is essential. It’s a way to show a clean slate, and to reassure both its users and the authorities. On this point, Instagram is in a more delicate position. Recently, the Wall Street Journal revealed internal documents of the company attesting that it was aware of its bad influence on young people. And despite these shocking revelations, no click. The platform has now decided to minimize the facts and to temper. To be continued.

The role of social networks tomorrow

From a simple communication tool, social networks have now become real pillars of our societies. So much so that they shape it and can have a considerable impact on it, and on each person who composes it. More and more, they are expected to take an active role in managing the content shared on their platforms, in order to guarantee the protection, security and well-being of their users. In short, social networks must become active and commit to an ethical approach. And the road seems long.