Amnesty criticizes TikTok over continued risks to youth mental health

Amnesty International has raised concerns that TikTok continues to pose serious risks to young users’ mental and physical well-being, nearly 18 months after the organization’s 2023 report highlighted the dangers of its content algorithms.
The initial research, published in November 2023, revealed that TikTok’s ‘For You’ feed could expose children to harmful content within minutes of using the platform.

Using accounts designed to mimic 13-year-olds, Amnesty found that over half of the videos presented after showing interest in mental health related to emotional struggles. Many of these videos romanticized or encouraged themes like depression and suicide.

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, Amnesty asked TikTok for updates on what measures had been taken. TikTok’s response cited existing well-being tools, most of which were already in place at the time of the original research. The company did not provide evidence of any new, targeted changes to address the specific problem of algorithm-driven “rabbit holes.”

TikTok’s 2024 risk assessment under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) acknowledged that concentrated exposure to certain themes, such as extreme dieting or body image content, could negatively impact young users. However, Amnesty said TikTok had yet to take sufficient action to address these concerns, including completing a child rights impact assessment—an international human rights requirement for businesses.

The organization also criticized the platform’s design, describing it as addictive and overly reliant on users or parents to manage time limits. These features, Amnesty argued, encourage excessive engagement in ways comparable to casino mechanics.

Privacy issues were also highlighted, with Amnesty pointing out that TikTok’s data collection practices track user behavior to predict emotional states and interests, often framed as optional but deeply embedded in the app’s operation.

As some countries begin enforcing laws to hold platforms accountable for safeguarding users’ rights, Amnesty urged TikTok to proactively implement stronger protections rather than waiting for legal pressure.

The report underscores ongoing concerns about the platform’s impact on young users and the need for greater transparency and responsibility in content moderation and design practices.