Although only a relatively recent entrant into the U.S. social media market, TikTok escalates dangerous online activity. Nearly a third of Americans of all ages spend more than an hour on the app daily. With over one billion monthly users, it ranks fourth globally among social media platforms. More than any other social media platform, TikTok appeals to the youngest market possible.
In May 2023, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a public advisory warning that social media’s mental health effects have created an “urgent public health issue” for young Americans. The most critical period of adolescent brain development is from ages 10 to 19, when the brain is “especially susceptible” to harm and influence by these applications.