#TraumaTok-TikTok Videos Relating to Trauma: Content Analysis

Area of Science:

• Social Media Studies
• Mental Health Research
• Digital Communication

Background:

• Traumatic events significantly impact mental health.
• Social media platforms like TikTok are increasingly used for sharing experiences and seeking support related to trauma.
• Understanding TikTok's trauma-related content is crucial due to potential risks for young viewers, including vicarious trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the content of trauma-related videos on TikTok.
• To analyze how information, advice, stories, and support regarding trauma are presented on the platform.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative cross-sectional descriptive content analysis of 250 TikTok videos across 5 trauma-related hashtags.
• Videos were analyzed using a standardized codebook for content and a generic codebook for features and metadata.
• Data collected in December 2022.

Main Results:

• Instructional videos (21.6%) and personal stories (67.3%) were the dominant content types.
• Videos received substantial engagement (296.6M likes, 2.3M comments, 4.6M shares).
• A significant lack of trigger warnings (3.7%) was observed, despite distressing content.

Conclusions:

• Trauma content on TikTok, especially without warnings, poses risks of vicarious trauma.
• The platform can foster social connection and reduce mental health stigma, but professional support is essential.
• Public health efforts should focus on disseminating accurate information and promoting content moderation on social media.