Teenager watching healthy food video on TikTok on their smartphone.
Teens are using TikTok to learn about healthy eating habits, with short-form food videos encouraging them to experiment with new recipes and make lasting dietary changes. But what does this mean for their overall health and wellbeing? Let’s take a closer look at the findings of a recent study on this topic.
TikTok’s Impact on Teen Eating Habits
A study led by Christina Chung, assistant professor of computational media at the Baskin School of Engineering, found that teens often take both short-term and long-term actions around fast-paced healthy eating content on TikTok. The study, which was published in the journal Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, used semi-structured interviews with teens who habitually use TikTok to learn more about their online and offline habits. Ariel Wang, a Ph.D. student, conducted the interviews and found that the majority of teen TikTok users tend to be “lurkers,” who may like and comment on videos but often aren’t creating content themselves.
The study’s findings come in the face of worries that TikTok can have negative health impacts on young users. A 2022 study found that food, nutrition, and weight-loss content on TikTok perpetuates a “toxic” diet culture among teens and young adults. However, the new study suggests that TikTok can also be a positive influence on teens’ eating habits, encouraging them to try new recipes and make healthier choices.
How Teens Interact with Healthy Eating Content
So, what types of healthy eating content are teens engaging with on TikTok? The study found that short-form food videos and recipes are particularly popular, with teens using the platform to learn about new ingredients, cooking techniques, and meal ideas. Teens are also using TikTok to connect with other users who share similar interests and passions, creating a sense of community and support around healthy eating.
But how do teens use TikTok to learn about healthy eating? The study found that teens are using the platform to like, comment, and save videos, as well as to follow other users who share healthy eating content. Teens are also using TikTok to take short-term and long-term actions around healthy eating, such as trying new recipes, experimenting with new ingredients, and making lasting dietary changes.
Implications for Technology Designers
So, what do the study’s findings mean for technology designers? The researchers hope that their insights might help designers to think about ways to help teens build sustainable, healthy habits. This could involve designing social media platforms that promote healthy eating and reduce the spread of unhealthy diet culture. For example, platforms could use algorithms to prioritize healthy eating content, or provide users with tools and resources to help them make informed choices about their diet.
The study’s findings also have implications for the design of technology more broadly. By understanding how teens interact with healthy eating content on TikTok, designers can create technologies that support healthy habits and promote positive relationships with food. This could involve designing apps, websites, or other digital tools that provide users with healthy eating tips, recipes, and resources, as well as social support and community features.
Implications for Parents and Policymakers
So, what do the study’s findings mean for parents and policymakers? The researchers hope that their insights might help parents and policymakers to think about ways to support teens in developing healthy habits. This could involve providing teens with education and resources about healthy eating, as well as promoting positive relationships with food and social media.Parents and policymakers could also work to reduce the negative health impacts of social media on teens. For example, they could promote policies and interventions that reduce the spread of unhealthy diet culture on social media, or provide teens with tools and resources to help them critically evaluate the health and wellness content they encounter online.
The study’s findings also have implications for the role of parents and caregivers in supporting teens in developing healthy relationships with food and social media. By understanding how teens interact with healthy eating content on TikTok, parents and caregivers can provide teens with guidance and support to help them make informed choices about their diet and online activities.
Conclusion and Future Directions
In conclusion, the study’s findings suggest that TikTok can be a positive influence on teens’ eating habits, encouraging them to try new recipes and make healthier choices. However, the study also highlights the need for technology designers, parents, and policymakers to think critically about the potential health impacts of social media on teens.
Future research should continue to explore the complex interactions between technology, food, and health, and should consider the potential for social media to support teens in developing healthy habits. By working together, we can create a healthier and more supportive online environment for teens, and promote positive relationships with food and social media.
