The Wellness TikTok Community and Its Impact

TikTok is one of the most unusual social media platforms. This media juggernaut has a billion users yet can often feel like a small, exclusive community to users. TikTok thrives on its fine-tuned algorithm that can give each user a unique experience. This has led to the platform creating niche communities across the platform.

One of these unique communities is the TikTok wellness community. This vast industry encompasses many different aspects of health.

What is TikTok Wellness?

TikTok began in 2019 and gained popularity in the following year. This platform has a rather unique rise because it coincided with the COVID pandemic. During the lockdown, many people were stuck indoors and using TikTok as an outlet, both for socialization and for sharing their health concerns.

Because of this, wellness, both physical and mental, has been at the forefront of this platform from the start.

How Does TikTok Help?

TikTok has had a positive impact on many aspects of the health of users.

A Spotlight on Mental Health

The TikTok community places a heavy emphasis on mental health. The topic, which is often considered taboo even today, is much more easily accessible on the platform. Not only is it unstigmatized, but there are also extensive resources and tips available online.

TikTok has many resources in regards to mental health. You can learn about conditions that you may not have heard of before. Simple, universal tips like deep breathing exercises or meditation are also

Connection and Community

TikTok is a great place to find people with similar struggles as yourself. In fact, it is almost unavoidable that you will find these communities. The platform ensures that you end up among the right niches.

wellness — *TikTok connects users with shared struggles and support.* Source: Domestika

You can find people who have had similar issues and get guidance and tips. These connections will help you feel understood and make it easier to seek out advice. Finding reliable resources and professionals that cater to your specific needs is much easier through a shared community.

An active TikTok community will make you feel seen and less alone through the struggles you may be facing.

Resources

TikTok allows access to crucial resources related to both physical and mental health. Users can discover a plethora of content ranging from exercise routines and meditation techniques to tips for managing anxiety and stress.

Through hashtags and community engagement, you can connect with experts, therapists, and fellow users who share their experiences and offer support. TikTok’s algorithm learns users’ interests and can help you find localized support. Whether seeking workout inspiration, coping strategies, or professional guidance, TikTok provides a diverse and accessible space where users can access vital resources to improve their overall wellbeing.

The Dark Side

Despite the benefits that TikTok has had on people’s health, it brings countless dangers too.

Encouraging Unhealthy Eating

Your eating habits are an integral aspect of your health. Unfortunately, in today’s image-obsessed world with a new diet being presented to you every day, managing these habits is more difficult than ever.

If you are lucky enough to find yourself on the side of TikTok that gives real, sound health advice, you would be one of the few. With an algorithm that thrives on controversy, you are much more likely to find yourself on a part of the platform that tells you to slowly deteriorate your body. From all meat diets to all fruit ones, TikTok has content on every kind of extreme diet imaginable.

It is no doubt that you will be able to find a new extreme diet guaranteeing to solve all your problems in life, with comment sections full of testimonials from people swearing it works. Falling into one of these negative influences is surprisingly easy, especially when nothing else seems to work for you. This can have long-lasting effects on your personal life and health.

Pseudoscience

TikTok has the unique quality of curating massive audiences for everyman. It is a platform where people like to not just see experts but also to see people like them learn something new. While this works just fine when it is limited to DIY and home decor projects, it starts to become a problem in the domain of personal health.

TikTok is filled with pseudoscientific ideas, like how certain herbs or crystals can treat serious illnesses. This is made even more dangerous through the encouragement of quitting your prescribed medication.

This platform’s quick video format is extremely well-suited to anecdotal content. Many people flock to the social media app specifically to discuss their personal stories. However, when these stories are being used to push specific home remedies that will likely not work for everyone, it becomes all the more dangerous.

False Diagnosis

Almost all of us have, at one point or another, found ourselves Googling symptoms that we might have. Whether it is physical or mental health, looking for direction through online resources is common enough. However, TikTok definitely takes this to a whole new level.

While the site has readily available resources for information on mental health, it can also lead you down the wrong path without the help of a professional. Without proper consultations, you may become convinced that you are suffering from a condition even when it is not true.

Doing your own research on issues you are facing is not a bad thing. However, it can be a slippery slope, especially on a platform like TikTok where self-diagnosis is not just accepted but also encouraged.

Conspiracies and Mistrust

TikTok grew during a very uncertain time. This has had far-reaching impacts on the platform. It would not be an overstatement to say that Tiktok has a conspiracy problem.

There is no social media platform that does not have niches of people obsessed with every kind of conspiracy theory under the sun. However, most platforms tend to discourage this content. TikTok’s algorithm promotes and spreads it to new users.

Covid-19 vaccine conspiracies were once the most prevalent and dangerous example. During the pandemic, it was nearly impossible to use the app without someone making an unverified claim about the dangers of the vaccine or how the virus was a bioweapon.

These conspiracies gain widespread traction on this platform in particular due to the fast-paced nature of the app. With only a minute to explain a theory, it is much easier to coax users without really justifying your claims.

While TikTok can be a vast resource for people struggling with their physical and mental health, at the same time, it is crucial to exercise caution. The platform can create a bubble of misinformation that can damage your health in the long term.

Have a vision for your business? Let us help you get started! At EvolveDash, we’re passionate about helping businesses grow and evolve in the digital world. Our team is here to help every step of the way, from developing custom mobile apps to creating personalized websites.

With a proven track record of helping over 100 satisfied customers and 450 completed projects, we’re confident we can help you achieve your goals too. Let’s turn your business vision into success!