TikTok Tic- Tok, Time For Depression To Go Away!
When teens find a community on TikTok, it causes their depression to be reduced and even cured in some cases. The various forms of content aid viewers in their recovery and allow the sufferers to cope with particular symptoms of depression. Relatability amongst content creators allows users to feel as though they have a companion and role model to guide them through their adversity, which leads to an improvement regarding their mental struggle. Teens are able to find comfort in the short videos of the user, which impacts their mood and mental state. The more a viewer watches the content which a creator posts on TikTok, the more relief they will be able to feel, as they are connecting with the influencer. By finding a community on platform to which a user feels a sense of belonging, the use of TikTok allows the user to feel less lonesome, causing the depression of the user to lessen.
When a teen frequently views the videos of a particular creator or videos which pertain to a specific topic, the TikTok algorithm begins to pick up on this. The TikTok algorithm will continue to generate content which is related to or similar to the content that the view found to be most interesting. As a sufferer begins to use TikTok more and interacts more frequently with the videos on their screen, the algorithm spits out similar videos. When a user shares, likes, comments, saves, or watches a video for an extended time period or even more than one time, it causes the algorithm to recognize the post as something the viewer enjoyed. The more the user does this, the more refined their content will quickly become, allowing their whole feed to be content they desire. When a user finds a content creator relatable, they are able to interact with the content of the user and the algorithm will bring them back to their sense of home and community,
Various types of videos are posted on the app, serving as a way for users to express themselves. Through this concept, some users choose to post comedic videos, while others post about their lives, some post dances, and a majority of content creators post about a cause or experience that is near and dear to their heart. In this specific case, influencers that post about their struggle with depression are extremely appealing to users that are suffering from the same mental struggle. As a sufferer using TikTok continues to interact with and view the videos of the content creator who is sharing their personal testimony regarding their struggle, the algorithm built into the app will recognize it. Once the algorithm acknowledges the consistencies within the videos being liked by the user, specifically the videos regarding depression, videos containing information about depression are more commonly shown to the sufferer. Within the comment section, the creator and viewers are able to interact, where they can develop a friendship. With the comment section being visible to other users, they are able to join in on the conversation regarding the topic of depression which applies to them, allowing a community to be formed.
Each time a TikTok user who is suffering from depression opens the app, content that can serve as a form of therapy that is able to be displayed on their screen. Through the continued use and interaction within the app, the TikTok algorithm will successfully present the content of relatable influencers which sufferers long for. By viewing and engaging in the generated content, users dealing with the debilitating thoughts of depression are able to stimulate a response to the content, allowing it to serve as a coping mechanism. Through this concept, TikTok takes on a new reputation of being a positive resource in treating mental health struggles, particularly depression. Videos ranging from seconds to several minutes provide consultation for the watching sufferer, allowing them to particularly focus on content which is most helpful to their recovery.
While therapy is seen to be a valuable resource for treating depression, it is not available all the time, and not all civilians suffering with depression have access to therapy. By having a one hour appointment once a week, it gives users limited time to develop coping mechanisms to combat their depression and even less time to speak about their feelings. Through this free online platform, users who are fighting the debilitating feelings are able to open the app at any time, and watch any video that will aid in their struggle for an unlimited amount of time. TikTok can serve as a form of therapy in a moment’s instance, whereas physical therapy must be scheduled and planned. By having the app, serving as a coping mechanism, in the palm of the hand of a user suffering from depression, it allows relief to be almost instantaneous. Once the content consumer finds an influencer who helps them battle their struggle, they are able to open the app directly to their page and find a feeling of peace and escape from the depressive thoughts consuming their mind.
Once the content within the app known as TikTok is able to cure or lessen the dark and depressive thoughts of a user, they have the ability to share their story. If one chooses to, they could also make videos discussing their battle with depression and what helped them out of the situation. By viewing the potential video which the said person could create, it will then continue to reach others who are sharing that same struggle, allowing for a community to be formed. Through this process, more and more content consumers struggling with depression are able to be reached, enhancing the therapeutic component within the app. If a user is not comfortable making videos or sharing their story regarding their previous, or current, depressive state, they have the ability to comment on videos, which will still reach their intended audience. Through captivating the audience in the comments, the user will still be able to share their story without having to verbally speak or show their face on the platform. Through the connections made between users in the comments and the influencer who posted the content, a community can be formed which addresses the struggle with depression. Each member of the newly developed online depression community has the ability to lift the other users up through their testimonies, reminding them they are not alone within this dark period in their life. The TikTok group is also able to share coping mechanisms which helped them recover from their depressive state or episodes, overall bettering the lives and mental health of those who associate with the community.
References
Behar, Virginie. “Healing the Depressed Self: A Study of Social Media Therapy.” DIVA, 21 June 2023, http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1771491&dswid=9058.
Counterintuitive Fall 2024 
Hello, Sunflower! I’ll react to this essay as I read it, with a comment or two about each paragraph.
—You “talk about” the causal claim quite a bit, here, Sunflower, but you don’t say it.
—You mention finding community
—and Relatability
—and companion, and role model
—and connecting with the influencer,
but without actually saying that
Either loneliness causes the depression, or the depression causes the loneliness, or both, but anything that eases the isolation is therapeutic. And TikTok provides that contact.
—I’m surprised to see that you haven’t mentioned community building or sharing or ” connecting to the influencers,” or Relatability as part of the application “grooming” process you’re describing here, where TikTok gets you addicted by showing you what you ask it to.
—I thought you’d be investigating the line between when TikTok’s community is more like a gospel choir versus when it’s like a cult.
—By this point, I’ve decided your majority opinion on the question of whether TikTok’s influence is overall helpful or overall harmful will be “more good than harm.”
—I still don’t quite see the sort of connection you promised in the Introduction between, I thought, creators and “fans,” “followers,” “friends”?
—This paragraph mentions lots of watching and posting but not one-to-one communication. So, I keep wondering, does Sunflower mean something else by “community”?
—That’s a lot of language.
—Apparently “thoughts . . . stimulate a response . . . to content . . . which leads to coping.”
—At this point I’m noticing that you haven’t cited any of your sources yet, Sunflower, and thinking this would be a good place to insert some evidence of the therapeutic benefits of engaging with content.
—I don’t misunderstand anything you say, Sunflower, but I don’t see any specific detail of the way a connection is made that feels like inclusion or acceptance or community or a balm to loneliness.
—The users in your examples seem to be always just consuming content. How do they feel “seen” by the community if they’re only “watching”?
I found something in the article you used as your only Reference for this argument, Sunflower:
—That’s a lot of language, too! (not yours this time)
—What might be useful to you are the bits about “pocket therapist” and “therapeutic companions.”
—And the bit about how the apps provide “an alternative and complement to expert treatment.”
—Good, right?
Is that source the one we found during our Zoom conference?
Thank you so much for all of the thorough feedback, I really appreciate you taking the time to write all of that for me. I will work on this as soon as possible, thank you again!
The additions you made to your first three paragraphs are all very helpful and powerful, Sunflower.
You’ve written 1000 words for a research paper without citing or quoting a single source, Sunflower. Including the Behar article as your Reference is helpful, but it doesn’t help us determine what you owe to Behar. Fixing that omission will make a big difference to your grade.