Social media is a central fixture of American adolescent life. TikTok, a video-sharing
application (app), stands out as particularly popular, with over 80 million monthly
active users in the United States—of which 32.5% are between the ages of 10–19 [
[1]
]. TikTok videos, which are one minute or less in duration, include a subset of videos
discussing topics covered in comprehensive sex education and health classes [
Wallaroo Media
TikTok Statistics – Updated February 2021.
TikTok Statistics – Updated February 2021.
https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/
Date accessed: June 23, 2021
[2]
]. App- and web-based content on sexual health has clear appeal to adolescents and
young adults who may be eager to learn about these subjects in a discreet, inclusive
manner and who may lack other avenues to obtain sex and health information. Consequently,
TikTok holds considerable promise to educate on often overlooked aspects of sexual,
physical, interpersonal, and emotional health [
Healthing.ca
Sex ed: If schools won’t do it, TikTok will.
Sex ed: If schools won’t do it, TikTok will.
https://www.healthing.ca/wellness/sex/social-media-app
Date accessed: June 23, 2021
[3]
]. However, the nature of TikTok also presents at least three challenges for adolescent
sex education.- Fowler L.R.
- Schoen L.
- Smith H.S.
- Morain S.R.
Sex education on TikTok: A content Analysis of Themes.
Health Promot Pract. 2021; (Accessed August 25, 2021)https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211031536
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References
- TikTok Statistics – Updated February 2021.(Available at:)https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/Date accessed: June 23, 2021
- Sex ed: If schools won’t do it, TikTok will.(Available at:)https://www.healthing.ca/wellness/sex/social-media-appDate accessed: June 23, 2021
- Sex education on TikTok: A content Analysis of Themes.Health Promot Pract. 2021; (Accessed August 25, 2021)https://doi.org/10.1177/15248399211031536
- Committee on adolescence and Committee on psychosocial aspects of Child and Family health. Sexuality education for Children and adolescents.Pediatrics. 2016; 138https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2016-1348
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- Teens don’t always get sex ed at school. TikTokers are stepping in. The Lily.(Available at:)https://www.thelily.com/teens-dont-always-get-sex-ed-at-school-tiktokers-are-stepping-in/Date accessed: June 18, 2021
- HEADS4: Social media Screening in adolescent Primary care.Pediatrics. 2018; 141: e20173655
Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 10, 2021
Footnotes
Support and assistance: None to disclose.
Conflicts of interest: None to disclose.
Clinical trials registry site and number: Not applicable.
Identification
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© 2021 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. All rights reserved.
