Accuracy of mental health advice on TikTok examined
- TikTok is now increasingly being used as a search engine for a range of purposes by young people.
- One of these purposes is mental health and an insight into mental health conditions.
- A company called PlushCare has analysed 500 TikTok videos which included #mentalhealthtips and #mentalhealthadvice hashtags and had medical professionals assess them for accuracy and risk.
- The study found nearly 84% of mental health advice on TikTok is misleading.
- Around 14% of videos included content which could be potentially damaging.
- To view the full findings from PlushCare’s research, go to Social Media Today’s website.
Study reports loot boxes cause “financial and emotional harm” to children
- A three-year study from Newcastle and Loughborough Universities tracked gaming habits of 42 families with children aged between five and 17.
- The study found children struggled to track spending in games where “highly alluring” digital items were advertised to them using techniques from gambling.
- The report recommends loot boxes be restricted within games to those aged over 18 and virtual currencies be replaced with direct currency, such as pound sterling.
- Check out our article on Young People and Gambling in Gaming.
- To learn more, go to the Eurogamer website.
Sharp rise in teenagers suffering poor mental health
- According to a report covering England from NHS Digital, there has been a sharp rise in the number of older teenagers who most likely have a mental health disorder.
- One in four 17–19-year-olds are now suffering from serious mental distress, up from one in six last year.
- The report also showed one in five children under 16 reach the threshold for ‘probably’ having a mental health disorder.
- Issues facing children included depression, anxiety, eating disorders, sleeping problems, self-harming and profound loneliness.
- For more, go to the Standard’s website.