The TikTok Era: Creativity, Connection, and Caution

By Dr. Jerry Mercado

Mental Health Advocate | CEO of Psych-Evolution

It’s hard to ignore the impact it’s had—especially on younger generations. Whether you’re a parent trying to understand your teen’s screen habits or a clinician noticing shifts in attention and self-esteem, TikTok is part of the landscape now.

On the surface, it’s just short videos. But underneath, it’s a complex mix of creativity, connection, and—sometimes—concern.

The Upside? There’s a lot.

People are using TikTok to express themselves in ways they never could before. You’ve got kids sharing poetry, dance, mental health tips, and even educational content. The algorithm doesn’t care how many followers you have—it just wants to know if your content resonates. That’s powerful. It gives voice to people who’ve felt invisible.

There’s also a sense of community. You’ll find hashtags like #ADHDLife or #TraumaRecovery where people are genuinely supporting each other. For some, it’s the first time they’ve felt seen.

And from a therapeutic standpoint, I’ve seen clients use TikTok to discover coping strategies, normalize their experiences, and even find language for what they’re feeling. That’s not nothing.

But we also need to talk about the risks.

TikTok is designed to keep you scrolling. That’s not a judgment; it’s just how the platform works. The short, rapid-fire videos trigger dopamine loops that can make it hard to stop. For some users, especially teens, that can lead to sleep disruption, attention issues, and emotional dysregulation.

There’s also the comparison trap. You’re watching curated snippets of other people’s lives, filtered, edited, and often idealized. That can distort reality and impact self-worth, especially if someone’s already struggling with identity or confidence.

And then there’s misinformation. TikTok isn’t a clinical space. You’ll find great advice, but you’ll also find content that’s misleading or even harmful. That’s why media literacy is so important, knowing how to filter, question, and verify what you’re seeing.

So, what do we do with all this?

We don’t demonize the platform. We don’t glorify it either. We stay curious. We ask questions. We help young people build boundaries and awareness around their digital habits. And we use it as a starting point for deeper conversations—about identity, validation, and emotional safety.

If someone’s using TikTok to express themselves, that’s a window into their world. If they’re using it to escape, that’s a signal too.

Either way, it’s worth paying attention.