Abstract

Previous research has shown that social media can have both beneficial and adverse implications for mental health, depending on individual use patterns and the specific characteristics of different platforms. TikTok is currently the fifth most popular social media application worldwide. Its For You feed, creative challenges, and integration of music with short-form video make it especially popular among adolescents. This systematic review examined the potential risks and benefits of TikTok use among adolescents and compared the associations of different patterns of use and types of content exposure with mental health outcomes. We searched Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed and included 14 studies comprising 7,248 participants from 11 countries. We then conducted a narrative synthesis to inform more responsible TikTok use among adolescents and support positive mental health development.