As the internet becomes more and more prevalent in our daily lives, the mental health of many individuals suffers in the process. In fact, many old and young people alike are turning to therapists on social media like TikTok and Instagram for advice on their mental and physical health.
Although online therapy from qualified professionals is accessible — a lot of people are resorting to taking advice from unqualified influencers instead. Mental health content social media platforms can do much more harm than good. If you have an addiction, eating disorder, or other serious mental health problem, here’s a look at why you shouldn’t consult social media for therapy, or even just advice.
Inaccuracies Abound
A study examining the quality and accuracy of mental health advice on TikTok pertaining to ADHD found that roughly half of the videos contained false and misleading information. This means that for every two ADHD-related social media posts a user sees while using the application, one of them has a high chance of being inaccurate.
As young adults, teenagers, and other demographics continue to spend more time on TikTok and other apps, the number of misleading mental health tips they’ll come across will naturally grow higher. What’s worse, because the algorithms of these platforms directly target the interests of individual social media accounts, those who search for mental health advice will continue to be fed more potentially harmful posts.
Unlicensed Mental Health “Experts”
Given how important mental health issues are, becoming a licensed professional counselor or other expert requires specialized training and certifications. However, you don’t need to have a background in therapy to post social media content, meaning that anyone can upload videos on mental health topics without sufficient knowledge or experience.
This has naturally led to users trusting unlicensed influencers for their mental health care, resulting in them adopting unhealthy coping strategies, learning the incorrect meanings behind psychological terms, and other problems. As such, if you need clinical advice for your mental health issues, only listen to a licensed professional with the necessary certifications.
No Individualized Care
Even if two individuals experience the same mental health concerns, the origins of their struggles can vary substantially. During therapy sessions, counselors and other mental health professionals help patients reach the root causes of their unique problems — something that can’t take place on any social media platform.
When a social media therapist posts about a depressive disorder or other problem, they’re not speaking to you on an individual level. Instead, their mental health content is being shared amongst thousands, if not millions, of people. In some cases, their posts are designed to be engaging and accessible to everyone, which is a far cry from the patient-focused nature that mental health services are meant to be.
It’s Not a Safe Space
Many mental health conditions can be hard to talk about in public spaces, given how much they relate to an individual’s private, personal lives. While a closed-door therapy session provides patients with a safe space to speak freely with their therapist and reach the source of their problems, the same could not be said for social platforms.
Many have used social media therapy as a means to discuss their mental health with others online who struggle with the same issues, but this comes at the cost of privacy. If you share private and highly personal information in a comment section, there’s no telling who might see it. Due to this limitation, it’s much harder to open up completely and reach the true source of your problems.
Additionally, there are some social media sites that heavily restrict what users can and can’t post about. Due to the serious and often uncomfortable nature of many mental health problems, they won’t be able to discuss their issues in full detail.
If You Need Counseling and Wellness Services, Visit Our Professional Psychological Practice
The mental health profession shouldn’t be leveraged to gain a larger social media presence — it should be used to help patients receive the treatment they need. At Solstice Counseling and Wellness Center, our private practice provides individuals with a holistic approach to therapy. Reach out today to learn more about our individualized treatment programs and to meet our licensed professionals.