Table 3 Participants’ comments on TikTok’s distinctive features
Positive comments | N | Negative comments | N |
|---|---|---|---|
The algorithm shows you videos related to your interests, bringing similar people together, encouraging people to express themselves freely | 16 (20.5%) | The algorithm offers the same trends over and over (“foryou” page), changing someone’s thoughts and behaviors | 14 (17.9%) |
Various, original, educational contents | 11 (14.1%) | Lots of haters; body-shaming comments | 10 (12.8%) |
More space to mental health, with some specialists giving advice | 8 (10.3%) | Many videos on physical appearance, leading to comparisons. [TikTok] influences beauty standards. People pretend to be someone that they are not | 9 (11.5%) |
More positive messages and less space for body-shaming | 5 (6.4%) | Contents about mental health can be triggering, sometimes wrong advice is given | 7 (9.0%) |
Users are less afraid of showing themselves as they really are. More videos than pictures, so it is difficult to modify someone’s image | 5 (6.4%) | More addictive than other SM | 5 (6.4%) |
More people of the same age, with more in common to share | 4 (5.1%) | Challenges can be dangerous | 4 (5.1%) |
People may encourage you to eat and make videos to raise awareness about Eating Disorders | 1 (1.3%) | Easy for children, under the age limit, to go on TikTok | 2 (2.6%) |