Does TikTok Cause ADHD?

Key Takeaways

• No medical authority has concluded that TikTok causes ADHD. Studies and government reports link heavy TikTok use with attention-related difficulties in teens. Research on this topic is still ongoing and these studies do not prove direct causation.
• Filed lawsuits allege TikTok’s design was linked to mental health harms in young users. One of these alleged harms is ADHD-symptom worsening. No final verdicts have been reached yet in the lawsuits.
• Some families may have legal options if ADHD symptoms worsened after heavy TikTok use. All cases are evaluated based on their individual circumstances.

What Research and Reporting Say About TikTok and Attention

The information below is provided for educational purposes. It does not implicate any particular company or technology.

Researchers and journalists have studied how TikTok use may interact with attention and focus. This section details scientific studies and news reports on the topic.

Surgeon General Advisory

In 2021, the US Surgeon General released an advisory about youth social media use. The advisory focused on the impact on teens of “engagement-maximizing designs.” It says that teens may face certain mental health risks due to these designs.

Some of the mental health risks discussed in the warning are:

• depression
• anxiety
• sleep problems
• eating disorder issues
• self harm

It’s important to note that the advisory doesn’t say social media causes ADHD. It does however say that excessive digital exposure may worsen:

• attention-related behaviors, and
• impulse control

Reporting on TikTok’s Design

Some news organizations have investigated TikTok’s platform design choices. Journalists from the New Yorker reported that TikTok’s “For You Page,” studies how users interact with content.

The data TikTok collects from users is then used to deliver a nonstop stream of short videos. The report says this stream is meant to keep users watching short videos on TikTok for longer.

Internal Documents from TikTok

The New York Times reported on internal TikTok documents in 2021. The documents described goals regarding user retention and the amount of time users spend on the platform.

Critics of the company’s methods argue their focus may lead to compulsive use among users. Critics also pointed out such tactics may reduce deliberate viewing of content.

Behavioral Patterns Seen in Problematic Use

Peer-reviewed research has studied how to measure problematic social media use. Researchers have identified patterns users may exhibit such as:

• preoccupation
• tolerance
• withdrawal
• relapse

These patterns suggest limits on self-control and impulse control. Researchers have also noted overlap between these patterns and attention difficulties. Please note, that’s not the same thing as ADHD though.

Neuroscience Research and Litigation

Neuroscience researchers have studied dopamine, reward sensitivity, and impulsivity. The research suggests that consuming new digital content can strain a person’s ability to pay attention.

Lawsuits allege TikTok’s reward-based features contribute to impaired impulse control. The lawsuits highlight risks for youth who already struggle with attention or self-control.

What Do These Studies Actually Prove?

Research on TikTok and attention does not show that the app causes ADHD. Instead, these studies look at patterns seen in heavy digital media use.

Many findings show links between high levels of screen time and trouble with focus. Reward-based design has been linked in studies to impulsivity and emotional control concerns.

In ongoing lawsuits, plaintiffs argue that TikTok’s design can make existing ADHD symptoms worse. They also claim it can lead to attention problems that look similar to ADHD.

These claims do not say that TikTok creates ADHD. Medical experts widely agree that ADHD involves a mix of factors, such as:

• Genetic Factors
• Brain Development Factors
• Environmental Factors

Is TikTok Getting Sued for Mental Health Harm to Kids?

Yes, TikTok has been named in litigation that alleges their platform’s design harmed the mental health of some minors.

About TikTok

Before we discuss lawsuits against TikTok, let’s quickly cover some information about their business.

TikTok is a short form video social media app created by ByteDance. Tiktok started as Douyin before it grew to global markets. Its popularity soared during the COVID-19 pandemic. It eventually became one of the most widely used platforms among teens.

TikTok’s Potential Impact on Children

As TikTok’s popularity has grown, so have questions about its impact on kids and adolescents. Researchers, regulators and parents question how its algorithm may impact:

• young people’s mental health
• attention development

What Is the TikTok Youth Mental Health Lawsuit About?

Lawsuits have been filed by parents and young people all over the United States. They allege the design of large social media platforms has contributed to youth mental health harms.

There were so many lawsuits that the government decided to consolidate them. This way some of the procedures don’t have to be duplicated across every single lawsuit.

TikTok is one of the platforms named in these lawsuits.

Some of the harms alleged include:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• ADHD-symptom exacerbation
• Eating disorders
• Body-image issues
• Sleep problems
• Self-harm or suicide attempts
• Suicidal ideation
• Death (as alleged in some claims)

TikTok Features In The Lawsuits

This lawsuit is about the design of the social media platforms and the algorithms. These lawsuits are not about third party content.

People suing say certain features of the app may lead young people to compulsive use. They allege the design was intended to be addictive and to keep children and teens engaged.

People suing say that TikTok made these features available to kids without enough warning about potential risks to developing brains.

Some of the features in question are:

• infinite scroll,
• autoplay, and
• algorithmic recommendations

Get a Free TikTok ADHD-symptom Case Review

Note: Fill out the form or call to see if legal options may be available. Inquiries may be shared with a partner law firm under a marketing arrangement. The partner may assist with next steps.

If your child used TikTok heavily and attention issues may have followed, you may want answers. These attention issues may include new focus problems or changes to an existing ADHD condition.

You can request a free case review here.