TikTok has announced a set of new features it will launch to help users dealing with mental health problems and suicidal thoughts.
Features include guidelines for social welfare and support for people with an eating disorder.
There is also a search intervention tool introduced that directs users to support resources when looking for terms such as “suicide”.
The move comes as the peer platform of TikTok – Instagram is being investigated for its impact on users’ lives and well being.
In a statement, TikTok said: “We are deeply concerned about our community, and are constantly looking for new ways to take care of their well-being.
“That’s why we are taking further steps to make it easier for people to access resources and help when they need them at TikTok.”
The new tools, as per the company, will be launched globally in the coming months, including an expanded eating disorder guide and a feature that will guide users to local support, such as the Crisis Text Line, if they search for words such as suicide.
TikTok, like its rival social media platforms, is highly regarded for its impact on the mental health of its users, especially young people.
A report by the Education Policy Institute and The Prince’s Trust earlier this year found that the mental health of young people is being damaged by excessive use of social media.
It was linked to well-being and low self-esteem, regardless of a young person’s condition, with many girls experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness, the study said.
The announcement of TikTok came as The Wall Street Journal reported that Instagram had repeatedly discovered that in some cases its platform could be detrimental to the mental health of its new users.
According to the report, the company has been studying the impact of the app on the well-being of its young users for at least two years. The newspaper also said that research has repeatedly found that it is harmful to the majority of users, especially teenage girls.
In a lengthy statement, Instagram acknowledged the existence of a study reported by The Wall Street Journal but said the matter was “focused on limited findings and misrepresented”.
