The most popular app for young people is TikTok. It has become a cultural phenomenon that shapes how many teens interact socially, think about themselves, and consume media. While some may see it as just another way to have fun and express oneself creatively, there are serious concerns around its impact on teenagers' mental health. One such concern is the proliferation of erotic trends that can lead to cycles of social comparison, performance anxiety, and relational insecurity.
I will explain what these phenomena are and how they relate to each other through an analysis of the erotic TikTok trend 'WAP Challenge'. The WAP challenge involves participants imitating the music video for Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's song "WAP", which features sexually explicit lyrics and choreography. By participating in this challenge, adolescents engage in sexualized performances that can create feelings of pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty and attractiveness while also making them vulnerable to public shaming if their videos don't meet expectations. These pressures can be exacerbated by the way TikTok algorithms push similar content to users, further feeding into a cycle of self-comparison and anxiety.
Social comparison theory posits that humans instinctively compare themselves to others to assess their relative worth or value. This tendency is amplified when people feel uncertain or insecure about something, such as their appearance or performance abilities. When adolescents see other TikTokers performing sexual acts online, it can trigger a desire to do the same but with greater intensity and frequency, leading to heightened levels of anxiety over whether their own videos measure up.
The fact that many users post anonymous comments on the platform can make it difficult to distinguish between genuine criticism and trolling, adding another layer of uncertainty.
Performance anxiety refers to excessive worry or fear about one's ability to perform in a specific situation. In the case of TikTok, this could manifest as panic attacks before filming an erotic video or extreme stress during editing. Adolescents may become preoccupied with getting everything perfect, spending hours crafting the ideal lighting, angles, and music to maximize likes and views. They may even develop physical symptoms like insomnia or fatigue from the intense effort required.
Relational insecurity refers to feelings of inadequacy or lack of trust in interpersonal relationships due to perceived deficiencies in communication, intimacy, or empathy. The WAP challenge may cause young people to question their sexual attractiveness or appeal compared to others, potentially impacting their romantic relationships.
They might feel pressure to engage in more risqué behavior than they would otherwise be comfortable with out of fear of being judged by partners or peers. Alternatively, they may feel isolated and alone if their partners are not interested in participating in the trend or don't appreciate it.
The WAP challenge is just one example of how TikTok can create harmful cycles of social comparison, performance anxiety, and relational insecurity among adolescents. It highlights the need for parents, educators, and policy makers to address the risks associated with popular culture and digital media platforms like these. By raising awareness around these issues, we can help teens navigate them healthily and avoid long-term damage to their mental and emotional wellbeing.
How does TikTok erotic trend virality produce cycles of social comparison, performance anxiety, and relational insecurity among adolescents?
The popularity of TikTok has created an environment where users compete for attention by creating content that is likely to go viral. This can lead to pressure on individuals to create content that is sensationalized or sexualized. The rise of erotic trends on TikTok has led to increased visibility of sexual content, which can be harmful to young people's mental health.