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Sun Jan 12 2025

Most Children Use TikTok Violating the Rules and Face Consequences, According to a Study.

A recent study from the University of California, San Francisco, reveals that teenagers using TikTok are circumventing established age policies, and many exhibit symptoms of addictive use of the platform.

TikTok is facing a critical challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court, and the arguments presented so far do not seem strong enough to prevent a potential ban in the country. Discussions have primarily focused on concerns about national security and freedom of speech, but there is another factor that could seriously impact the popular social media platform.

A recent study from the University of California in San Francisco reveals that a large portion of children are using TikTok in violation of the platform’s age policies. The study indicates that children aged 11 and 12 are also showing signs of addiction, and some are hiding their social profiles from their parents. This research, which analyzed data from 10,000 children aged 10 to 15, evaluated the use of TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and other platforms.

Jason Nagata, a pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals and the lead author of the study, emphasized that TikTok is the most popular social app among children, with a usage rate of 67.1%, highlighting its potential for harm. A quarter of the participants indicated that they often think about social media platforms, while the same proportion admitted that these apps help them forget their problems.

Surprisingly, 17% of the children involved in the research expressed a desire to reduce their social media use, but feel they cannot achieve it. Additionally, 11% described the impact of these apps as harmful to their academic activities. The study, published in the journal Academic Pediatrics, also underscores that social media use among minors, some as young as 11, is linked to an increase in depression, disruptive behaviors, and eating disorders.

The results are not unexpected; platforms like Instagram have been criticized for exacerbating body image issues among young people. Moreover, previous research has revealed a problematic environment on Meta's platform related to drug trafficking. Recently, investigations by Amnesty International exposed that TikTok was providing harmful content for children's mental health.

Nagata emphasized that lawmakers should consider TikTok a systemic issue within the realm of social media and establish effective measures to protect children online. The research article suggests that policies should focus on how platforms like TikTok negatively affect minors, and also recommends the implementation of stricter age verification, more effective parental control tools, and more rigorous privacy protocols.