Is TikTok quietly rewiring teen beliefs?

A new academic study is set to examine how TikTok’s “For You” page may influence teenagers’ beliefs, mental health, and online behaviour.

The research is being conducted by Georgia Institute of Technology and is based on data collected from more than 10,000 teenagers in the United Kingdom. The participants voluntarily shared their TikTok data archives under General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules.

Unlike earlier studies that focused on what young users post publicly, this project examines what they consume privately. Researchers are analysing viewing history instead of uploaded content. The goal is to understand how algorithm-driven recommendations may shape what teenagers repeatedly see and internalise.

The project is led by Professor Munmun De Choudhury of Georgia Tech. It is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Cambridge’s Amy Orben and UCLA researcher Homa Hosseinmardi.

Researchers say passive scrolling — especially late-night sessions — often leaves no public trace but may have a significant psychological impact. By studying consumption patterns, the team hopes to better understand subtle influences that may go unnoticed.

TikTok’s “For You” page relies on machine learning to predict and recommend videos tailored to each user. According to experts, such predictive systems are not neutral. They may unintentionally amplify certain interests, reinforce beliefs, or repeatedly expose users to specific themes. These themes can range from beauty standards and body image trends to political viewpoints.

Concerns about harmful content are not new. A 2022 report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate claimed that accounts posing as 13-year-olds were quickly shown videos related to eating disorders and self-harm. TikTok rejected the findings at the time, stating that experimental setups do not reflect real user experiences.

The Georgia Tech research team now plans to use artificial intelligence simulations to trace possible “rabbit hole” patterns within the platform. By recreating how small user interactions can influence future recommendations, the researchers aim to identify pathways that may affect teenagers’ mental health and digital wellbeing.

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