The short answer is that yes, TikTok affects how young teens, specifically girls view their own body image. It is not only TikTok where this happens, but TikTok is an app that's meant to have short videos. As with any other social media app, this is also where influencers or anybody posting tends to try to look their best. Many women and girls will post videos specifically showing off their body that is "socially desired", and when young girls see these videos, it's easy for them to look at their own bodies and question to themselves, "why don't I look like her"? "What's wrong with my body"? In many cases, this can lead to eating disorders in girls ranging from all ages, in attempt to look like the girls that they saw online.
UNSW Sydney reported a study where they took around 200 girls, and showed them short TikTok and Instagram videos of younger female influencers that, "reflected societal appearance ideals" (UNSW Sydney, 2023). The participants who watched the videos reported immediate comparisons, judging their own bodies because they weren't like the ones in the videos. This is just one example of this happening. I'll even admit that it has happened to me, and actually still does almost daily. Does it affect me nearly as much as it used to? No. But it still makes me think, "wow I wish I looked like her". This is extremely dangerous because like I said before, it can easily lead to eating disorders. When girls who are still growing gain eating disorders, it can affect their bodies for the rest of their lives. In conclusion, yes, TikTok does affect young girls' body image, and can ultimately lead to potential health issues.
