State of Mind: Is TikTok worth the time?

Amid a devastating natural disaster, ongoing wars, and a presidential transition, the current news impacting people the most seems to be the ban — and quick reinstatement — of TikTok. How things unfolded is particularly interesting when juxtaposed with evolving changes in the local media landscape and the roles that both play in mental health.

Like all social media, there are positive elements and potential risks associated with TikTok. On the positive side, it is a space where individuals can express their individuality and creatively connect with like-minded people. At its best, TikTok can lessen feelings of isolation and provide support for individuals and groups.

However, TikTok also carries with it concerns around user privacy, exposure to harmful content, dangerous challenges, exploitation of young people, and even physical health and safety on and off the app. TikTok’s algorithm makes it highly addictive, driving users to spend increasing amounts of time and energy on the app. Mindless scrolling can reduce attention spans and disrupt sleep patterns, while excessive use has been linked to increased levels of anxiety and depression. And like other social media, TikTok can become an echo chamber that reinforces negative thoughts or behaviors, while endless streams of highly curated content can lead to social comparisons that damage self-esteem and self-identity.

Even with these risks, millions of people across the country found their comfortable place on TikTok and large numbers of them publicly and privately mourned its temporary absence. In fact, the level of public outcry at the possibility of losing a social media platform is what makes this story fascinating, particularly when contrasted with recent news around various local media.

In Eastern Iowa, The Gazette announced a reduction in daily prints of a newspaper that recently celebrated its 142nd anniversary. Nationally, a major media group eliminated local meteorologists, in favor of a national weather hub. Similar announcements have been made by news stations moving away from local anchors and radio stations from local deejays.

While there is an element of shifting consumer habits that requires change and evolution, there are numerous risks associated with these shifts due to lack of support and engagement. This includes things like a loss of institutional knowledge around the history, people, landscape and fabric of local communities, not to mention the ability to hold local elected officials accountable or to highlight local stories from public safety to sports and community events.

From a mental health perspective, community is essential to well-being. Feeling connected to others and finding belonging among supportive people can bring a sense of purpose. Many people found that in part through TikTok. However, face-to-face interactions and in-person community have always been and remain vital, which can be magnified when virtual options become unavailable. And the local newspaper, meteorologist, anchor, or deejay offer a dependable, familiar name, face, or voice to provide connection to that local community.

Interestingly, though, there has been very little public outcry when it comes to the potential loss of invaluable, independent, long-standing people and organizations that are fully invested in local communities in comparison to the collective response to the potential loss of a social media app. Both clearly have impacts and unintended consequences. However, it may be worth considering our individual and collective roles in and reactions to each.

Perhaps now is an opportunity to reconsider our relationship with social media and refocus our time and energy on — and support for — our local community. And in that process of reconnecting in person with neighbors and organizations mutually invested in our local community, we might just individually and collectively realize positive impacts on our mental health and well-being.

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Bryan Busch is a licensed mental health counselor in Cedar Rapids. He also works at Folience, the parent company of The Gazette. He can be reached at bryan.busch@thegazette.com.