TikTok and the Teen Brain
If TikTok was becoming popular prior to 2020, quarantine mandates certainly helped it become one of the most popular ways to pass the time throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many kids and teens staying home from school, they were left to fend for themselves in an effort to alleviate boredom. The rise of TikTok is seen as both a blessing and a curse for many, because while it does a great job of keeping spirits up via silly, witty content, it can also result in tunnel vision, causing many to lose hours of their day to the “addicting” app we’ve all come to know.
But for kids and teens with ADHD, the impact of such a polarizing, engaging app is quite significant. According to WebMD, “A teen with ADHD may have a hard time concentrating on schoolwork but may do well with video games, which offer immediate rewards. All teens can be emotional, but one with ADHD may have more trouble keeping their emotions in check.” (How to Recognize ADHD Symptoms at Every Age: WebMD)
The very concept of TikTok surrounds immediate gratification. If one video isn’t funny enough or interesting enough, simply swipe up to see something new. And if it is funny or engaging, click through to that creator’s page to easily swipe through hundreds of other videos just like it. This social media structure can often lead to a bit of impulsivity, especially for kids and teens struggling with ADHD symptoms like hyperactivity, boredom, or overstimulation. Can you blame them? Even adults struggle to avoid the rabbit hole of doom-scrolling through their own social media apps. For kids who otherwise struggle to feel heard or understood, TikTok serves as a safe space to zone out, indulge in content that interests them, and pass time in a way that doesn’t require them to do much thinking.
Getting on “Your” Side of TikTok
If you’re familiar with the platform, you may have heard phrases like “I’m on the right side of TikTok,” or “I made it to ADHDTok.” Essentially, this is how people recognize whether the algorithm seems to have grasped their interests or not. Putting a noun in front of the latter half of the app’s name acknowledges that you’re being shown content that TikTok realizes you relate to or enjoy. For many teens, the platform has allowed them to recognize some of their own mental health concerns or symptoms, leading them straight to ADHDTok.
This means that they might occasionally see videos that they can relate to in regards to their own challenges and obstacles in their lives. Essentially, TikTok creates a sense of community for many of topics (ADHDTok for those who struggle with ADHD, BookTok for those who are all about books, GamingTok for video gamers, etc.), and this sense of community can be very comforting for kids and teens. When they see content that makes them feel like they aren’t so alone, TikTok reinforces their sense of normalcy, which can be very desirable for impressionable ages.
The result? Many young adults are coming to terms with the fact that perhaps they have undiagnosed ADHD, and those who are diagnosed are feeling a whole lot more understood by strangers on the internet than they are at school or at home. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as TikTok is making it easier for kids to create dialogue surrounding their differences, their challenges, and their interests.
It’s important to recognize that while TikTok can be a bit more dangerous for those prone to hyperfocusing or zoning out, as it leads to a bit of a reliance on social media, it’s also a powerful tool for those same kids to create a sense of community among their peers. Consider talking to your kiddo about healthy social media habits, inquire about what side of TikTok they’re on, and ask how you can learn more about the content they enjoy most on the internet. Learning these things may make it easier for you to open up and explore those same topics as a family.