TikTok algorithm causing self-diagnosis mental health disorders 📲💭

Have you ever wondered how social media affects how teens understand themselves? TikTok has become a surprising platform where young people are learning about mental health - sometimes in ways that can be confusing.

What's Happening on TikTok?

Teens are watching videos about mental health conditions and starting to label themselves or their parents with different diagnoses. Licensed counselor Kyle Kunkel explains that words like "narcissism" have become popular terms that teens use to describe behaviors they don't like. Understanding Narcissism: More Than Just a Label Narcissistic personality disorder is a real condition that involves: • Having an inflated sense of self-importance • Needing constant attention • Struggling to understand other people's feelings • Showing little empathy Dr. Brian Zachariah warns that TikTok discussions about mental health can be "sensationalized or misinformed." This means teens might be getting incomplete or incorrect information. The Real Risks The Center for Countering Digital Hate found that social media platforms can expose young people to potentially harmful content about mental health. This doesn't mean every video is bad, but it does mean parents should be careful.

What Parents Can Do

Talk openly with your kids about what they're watching

Help them understand the difference between professional diagnosis and online opinions

Encourage healthy communication about feelings

Limit social media time Your Kid's Mental Health Matters

Bullet Points:

• TikTok's algorithm is causing users, especially teens, to self-diagnose mental health disorders like narcissism.

• Users often base their diagnoses on misinformation and misconstrue normal parental behavior as narcissistic.

• Licensed counselor Kyle Kunkel and Dr. Brian Zachariah express concern over this trend of self-diagnosis.

• The Center for Countering Digital Hate advises parents to limit both their own and their children’s TikTok usage.