TikTok Debuts Mental Health Help as IG Faces Criticism for Its Effects on Teens

TikTok is unveiling new mental health resources on its platform to address the well-being of its nearly 65.9 million monthly active users.

This new initiative is the latest in TikTok’s efforts to offer help to users who may be struggling. These tools include in-app guides that address body image topics, “signs of struggling,” and more. TikTok is also altering search results for self-harm terms such as “suicide.” Instead of seeing harmful clips of users promoting suicide or even committing the act, TikTokers will be met with support and treatment resources.

“We care deeply about our community, and we always look for new ways in which we can nurture their well-being,” TikTok said in a statement.

These latest developments follow the Wall Street Journal’s objection to Facebook’s failure to address Instagram’s negative impact on teenagers’ mental health, despite the tech giant’s own studies confirming the issue.

“We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls,” an internal Facebook presentation admitted.

Facebook, which owns Instagram, may largely attribute this conclusion to the rise of the “social media influencer” and, in particular, the “Instagram model,” which often promotes unattainable beauty standards and body types.