WeeklySA_AdminCONTENT: It’s complicated, according to a new study, as the social media platform offers wellbeing support to some while exposing others to negative outcomes
By Own Correspondent
With the rise of TikTok, many people have wondered about its potential impacts on society, in particular surrounding mental health. According to a first-of-its-kind study from University of Minnesota Twin Cities computer science researchers, the social media platform and its unique algorithm can serve as both a haven and a hindrance for users struggling with their mental state.
The researchers’ study will be presenting their findings at the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, which will be taking place in the United States from April 23 to 28.
Through interviews with TikTok users, the University of Minnesota team found that the platform provided many people with a sense of self-discovery and community they were unable to find on other social media. However, the researchers said, the TikTok algorithm also displayed a worrying tendency to repeatedly expose users to content that could be harmful to their mental health.
“TikTok is misunderstood by people who don’t use the platform,” explained Stevie Chancellor, senior researcher of the study and an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota Department of Computer Science & Engineering.
“They think of it as the dance platform or the place where everybody gets an ADHD diagnosis. Our research shows that TikTok helps people find community and mental health information. But, people should also be mindful of its algorithm, how it works, and when the system is providing them things that are harmful to their wellbeing.”
TikTok is different from other social media platforms in that it is primarily run by a recommender system algorithm that displays videos it thinks you will like on your “For You Page” feed, as opposed to mostly showing posts from accounts you follow. While this can be great for showing you more content that you like, it can also lead to a rabbit hole of negative content that’s nearly impossible to escape from, the researchers said.
“TikTok is a huge platform for mental health content,” said Ashlee Milton, first author of the paper and a University of Minnesota computer science and engineering Ph.D. student.
“People tend to gravitate toward social media to find information and other people who are going through similar situations. A lot of our participants talked about how helpful this mental health information was. But at some point, because of the way the feed works, it’s just going to keep giving you more and more of the same content. And that’s when it can go from being helpful to being distressing and triggering.” The researchers found that when users get into harmful spirals of negative content, there often is no escape. The TikTok interface includes a “Not interested” button, but the study participants said it didn’t make any difference in the content that appeared in their feeds.
The research participants also expressed that it’s difficult to discern when TikTok creators are posting emotional or intense mental health content genuinely, or if they’re just “chasing clout” to gain more followers and likes. Many participants were forced to take breaks or quit using the platform entirely because of the stress it caused.
According to the University of Minnesota researchers, all of this doesn’t mean TikTok is evil. But, they said, it is useful information to keep in mind when using the platform, especially for mental health purposes.
“One of our participants jokingly referred to the For You page as a ‘dopamine slot machine,’” Milton said. “They talked about how they would keep scrolling just so that they could get to a good post because they didn’t want to end on a bad post. It’s important to be able to recognize what is happening and say, ‘Okay, let’s not do that.’”
This study is the first in a series of papers Chancellor and Milton plan on writing about social media, TikTok, and mental health.
“Ashlee and I are interested in how platforms may promote harmful behaviours to a person so that eventually, we can design strategies to mitigate those bad outcomes,” Chancellor said. “The first step in this process is interviewing people to make sure we understand their experiences on TikTok. We need insights from people before we as computer scientists go in and design to fix this proble
NEW HOPE FOR BONE-MARROW CANCER PATIENTS
THERAPY: Mental wellness critical to healing for patience battling Mutliple Myeloma…
By WSAM Reporter
Multiple Myeloma, once considered a death sentence, can now be treated as a chronic disease – thanks to advances in medical technology.
For many years, this rare form of bone-marrow cancer left patients with limited options for treatment and a prognosis of a short life expectancy. However, the picture has now changed with recent advances in medical technology as it can now be considered a chronic disease. Early detection and targeted therapy have transformed the way this disease is treated, offering patients a chance at a longer, healthier life. Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is a type of bone marrow cancer. Bone marrow is the spongy tissue at the centre of some bones that produces the body’s blood cells. It’s called multiple myeloma as the cancer often affects several areas of the body, such as the spine, skull, pelvis and ribs.
Moustafa Kamel, medical affairs director at Janssen South Africa, said there had been recent ground-breaking developments in the treatment of Multiple Myeloma. While it is not a common form of cancer, typically only impacting less than a percentile of the population, advances in treatment lays a foundation for better, overall treatment of cancers.
Kamel explained that cancer originates when a normal cell mutates, causing it to multiply rapidly and uncontrollably. Cancerous cells can spread to other parts of the body, making early detection critical to ensuring a better chance at a positive outcome. In the past, the options for treating Multiple Myeloma were limited to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. While these treatments were effective, they were also toxic to both cancerous and normal cells, leading to significant side effects and limited efficacy, Kamel said. With the development of targeted therapy, treatment can now be focused on the tumour cells specifically, resulting in a longer duration of treatment until relapse occurs.
“Targeted therapy is a game-changer for the treatment of cancer,” Kamel said. “It targets specific molecules or pathways that are involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells, while sparing healthy cells. This approach has transformed the way we treat Multiple Myeloma and other types of cancer, offering patients more effective and tolerable treatments.”The identification of high-risk patients in the pre-cancerous state is another promising development in the fight against Multiple Myeloma. By identifying these patients early, physicians and oncologists can take steps to prevent the transformation of pre-Multiple Myeloma into full-blown Multiple Myeloma. This approach has the potential to help patients before the cancer becomes advanced.
“We are committed to finding new and better ways to fight cancer,” Kamel emphasised. “Our ultimate goal is to eradicate Multiple Myeloma altogether, but until then, we will continue to work tirelessly to improve the lives of patients living with this condition.”
Living with cancer was not easy, and patients must deal with the cancer itself, the treatment, and the side effects of that treatment. The mental and emotional toll can be significant, not just on the patient, but also on their families and caregivers. Cancer can often led to anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, adding to the already overwhelming physical challenges.
In addition to physical care, it was important for patients to receive emotional and mental support throughout their cancer journey. Cancer can be a challenging and isolating experience, but with the right support, patients can feel empowered and supported. “We believe that every patient deserves the best possible care, and that includes not only physical care, but also emotional and mental care,” Kamel said. “It is important that treatment includes mental wellness with patients and their families, that they’re supported throughout their cancer journey, and to know that they are not alone; there are resources available to help them through a difficult time.”
He said Janssen was dedicated to advancing research and development in the fight against cancer and other serious diseases.
“We will continue to invest in research and development to find new and better treatments for cancer,” Kamel said. “Our commitment to patients is unwavering, and we will work tirelessly to improve the lives of those affected by cancer.”
Published on the 95th Edition
