The Level of Awareness of Mental Health and Its Impact on Tiktok Users

Abstract

In this era of globalization, social media platforms have become a universal space for communication, self-expression, and community building. Among these platforms, TikTok has emerged as a global phenomenon, captivating millions with its short-form videos and diverse content. This research examines the impact of TikTok content on the mental health of users who are 18 and older. With over 1 billion users worldwide, including users from Malaysia, it has become a dominant force in public culture, sparking worries among families, lawmakers, and therapists about its impact on mental health. There has been a significant increase in depression among Malaysians since 2019, where another study revealed that about 1 million individuals aged 15 years and older were suffering from depression, with the number of people with depression having doubled from 2019 to 2023. However, considering the wide range of content on the platform about mental health, it is still unclear how much of an awareness TikTok users have of mental health education. To investigate the awareness of mental health among TikTok users, particularly in the Malaysian context among the users aged 18 and above, a research was conducted by employing a quantitative approach using Google Forms. This study successfully collected responses from 401 respondents representing diverse backgrounds, ethnicities, beliefs, and educational levels. The results indicate a significant level of awareness among TikTok users regarding mental health issues, attributed in part to the abundance of mental health-related content on the platform (m = 3.08, m2 = 3.04). In conclusion, the study shows that users accept TikTok as a platform to spread awareness and as a significant platform to talk about mental health and provide support to the community globally.