The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers —— Take TikTok as an Example

Abstract

In the era of mobile Internet, TikTok has become a mainstream platform for teenagers with its amazing development speed. This paper will examine the positive and negative effects of TikTok on teenagers. On the positive side, TikTok provides teens with a creative outlet for self-expression and identity formation, which could fulfil the psychological needs for achievement and social belonging described in Maslow’s ladder of needs. However, due to the addictive nature of the brain’s dopamine response to short and fast-paced content, TikTok has also brought serious drawbacks to teenagers. This addictive phenomenon, dubbed “TikTok brain,” can disrupt real-life activities, including studying and social interactions. In addition, the “Fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) caused by TikTok use is also fuelling anxiety among teenagers. By describing the duality of TikTok’s effects, this paper highlights the need to balance the use of TikTok with awareness of its psychological impact on teenagers.