TeenToks: Mental Health Videos

The numerical rating I would give TeenToks is a four out of five based on the criteria discussed above and my own experience using the app. I found that using teen teachers to convey messages and techniques related to mental health to be very useful for adolescent users. Peer to peer guidance is a topic that Julie A. Laser (2021) discusses in Chapter 9 of her book Working with adolescents: A guide for practitioners. This type of intervention is effective because peers tend to hold more influence than parents and they share more knowledge of teen related media (Laser, 2021). A 13-year-old client may find it easier to practice skills and techniques outside of sessions if the advice comes from a fellow 15-year-old rather than their adult therapist. Nonetheless, it's important to acknowledge the fact that adolescents are going through a period of heightened brain plasticity as mentioned in the Social Work Podcast with Laurence Steinberg (2014). Adolescents’ experiences during this time can significantly affect how their brain develops (Steinberg, 2014). This implies that users, especially those between ages 12-21, should be cautious of what they are watching and how they interact with others on the app. Using TeenToks can have a more lasting impact on the brain of a 12-year-old than a 45- year-old. To ensure that the content on TeenToks is appropriate for its targeted audience, developers hire Tokkers that are passionate about helping others. Those interested in making content apply for the position and are approved beforehand. Only certain users can make content and posts on the app. I believe that the help of Tokkers keeps the content appropriate and saves developers from having to constantly monitor what is shared. Another reason why TeenToks works so well for adolescents is because with the rise of the internet, people are now able to create new versions of themselves online (Laser, 2021). As a result, they may feel more comfortable discussing mental health related topics with others. On the other hand, the app could significantly improve its ability to create profiles so that users can better relate and bond with one another over certain aspects of their culture such as gender, race, sexuality, etc. Another component of TeenToks that led me to my high rating was that the app can be used by families. Users can create up to 6 different profiles under one family. Family involvement in discussions and practices around menthol health can help normalize the topic and make adolescents feel more comfortable confiding in their parents or guardians. As mentioned by Marlene M Moretti and Maya Peled (2004) the role of a parent cannot be replaced by peers. Adolescents still need a stable parental attachment (Moretti & Peled, 2004). This stability teaches skills like emotional regulation, resilience and self-esteem (Moretti & Peled, 2004). This app can enable parents to continue fostering strong bonds and healthy communication with their children. The reason why I deducted a point from my rating is because of the unclear information about children's privacy and consent. As a user, It took me a while to locate the privacy policy and even after reading the whole document, I remained confused. Even though TeenToks was able to give explicit definitions of personal data and list what data they collected, it stated that parental consent was still needed. Yet I was still able to create an account as a 13-year-old without the app asking for parental consent before gaining access. TeenToks needs to share this information with users and their parents before joining or this information should be provided before being able to create an account. An additional element that could make the app more accessible for everyone is to include additional features that help users with disabilities or impairments. For instance, having adjustable font sizes, customizable color schemes and vibration alerts. Overall, the goal of TeenToks is to provide adolescents with additional tools and support to improve their overall well-being. With a few changes to the privacy policy and accessibility, this app has the potential to be a safe and meaningful resource for adolescent users.

It's so cute and really helped, but one question, can you post videos if if so, how????

I love TeenToks because of how fun and entertaining the videos are while also teaching me a lot of tools to help my mental health. I usually end up feeling drained after a while of using other social media apps, but it’s the exact opposite for TeenToks! The videos don’t get boring or repetitive and I actually look forward to using the app because of its positive atmosphere. It can be hard to find mental health resources that are 1) engaging and 2) actually helpful, but this app is both! And as a teenager, it‘s really great to see other teens talking about mental health topics and struggles. The teen video creators do an incredible job teaching and connecting with viewers, which is a big part of why using this app helps me feel less alone. I really recommend TeenToks to other teenagers who are looking to learn more about mental health, feel understood by other teens, or just watch positive, fun videos!