Recent observations from healthcare professionals have raised questions about a possible relationship between the rise in tics among teenage girls and their engagement with the app TikTok. Since the onset of the pandemic, doctors across the nation have reported an unusual surge in new patients—primarily adolescent girls—exhibiting symptoms resembling Tourette syndrome. This neurological disorder is marked by involuntary tics, movements, or vocalizations, and, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal, there may be a shared factor: the immensely popular social media platform TikTok, known for its plethora of Tourette-related content.
While much of the evidence supporting this trend is anecdotal, the statistics are alarming. A neurologist from Cincinnati noted an increase from one adolescent patient per month to roughly ten. Similarly, Texas Children’s Hospital reported around 60 new cases since March 2020, in stark contrast to their usual one or two cases annually.
Interestingly, many of the new patients exhibit a peculiar tic: shouting “beans” in a British accent, a phenomenon not limited to English speakers. Dr. Sarah Thompson, a researcher at Riverside Medical Center, began her investigation by exploring TikTok, where she discovered a prominent influencer exhibiting the same tic. After sifting through countless videos, Dr. Thompson noticed that numerous influencers who identified as having Tourette’s reported acquiring new tics after viewing them online. Given TikTok’s sophisticated algorithm, users often find themselves inundated with similar content after engaging with specific videos.
However, the majority of teenagers displaying Tourette syndrome symptoms also had prior diagnoses of anxiety and depression, conditions that have worsened for many during the pandemic. While this suggests that underlying mental health issues may contribute more significantly than TikTok, the company has acknowledged the situation and stated they are examining it. “The safety and well-being of our community is our priority, and we’re consulting with industry experts to better understand this specific experience,” a TikTok representative told the Journal.
This does not imply that parents should remove their daughters from TikTok altogether. However, healthcare professionals advise that discussing online content and screen time with children remains critical. While browsing TikTok can be enjoyable and a source of relaxation, it can also become overwhelming for some users.
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Summary
Doctors are investigating a possible link between the rise of tics in adolescent girls and their use of the TikTok app. Notably, many of these new patients also have histories of anxiety and depression, which may play a more significant role than TikTok itself. While there is no need for parents to ban the app, open conversations about online content consumption are encouraged.