Advertisement
IRL

VidCon: Therapists share their concerns about the ‘sensationalization’ of mental health issues on the internet

‘I think we’ve taken the word [trigger] a little bit too far.’

Photo of Victoria Gagliardo-Silver

Victoria Gagliardo-Silver

Woman staying home using mobile phone by window indoors in the dark. Asian young lady pensive looking at cellphone social media app. Mental health online addiction during covid confinement concept.
Shutterstock (Licensed)
Passionfruit
Featured Video

This story was originally published on Passionfruit.

Popular therapists and content creators on TikTok who speak on the intersection of social media and mental health have brought their expertise to VidCon. 

In a panel moderated by L.A. Times journalist and TikToker V. Spehar called “Triggered: The Sensationalization of Mental Health Online,” featuring Shani T (@theshaniproject), Dr. J (@amoderntherapist), and Dr. Courtney Tracy (@the.truth.doctor), the creators spoke on mental illness, stigma, trigger warnings, and the popular video-sharing platform.

Advertisement

The creators tackled difficult topics, like the rhetoric that social media contributes to the rise of mental health issues. With a steep increase in mood disorders and suicidal ideations in teens from 2005 to 2017, as reported by AJMC, researchers fear that social media may be to blame. Other concerns include the increase in tic-like behavior in teen girls, akin to creators with Tourettes syndrome they watch online, as reported by Fortune.


In Body Image
Advertisement

Sign up for our Passionfruit newsletter for creator coverage like this:


Advertisement

Today’s top stories

‘Fill her up’: Bartender gives woman a glass of water when the man she’s with orders tequila shot
‘I don’t think my store has even sold one’: Whataburger employees take picture with first customer who bought a burger box
‘It was a template used by anyone in the company’: Travel agent’s ‘condescending’ out-of-office email reply sparks debate
Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

We want to hear from you!

Advertisement

What do you like about the Daily Dot? What do you think we could be doing better? We want to hear from you! If you take this (super short) survey and tell us what you think, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win $1,000.

While you are at it, why don’t you sign up for the Daily Dot newsletter so you can get the best and worst of the internet delivered straight to your inbox every morning.

 
The Daily Dot