Impact of TikTok Usage on Body Appreciation among Adolescents

Background: TikTok has emerged as one of the most popular social media platforms among adolescents, with its visual content impacting self-image. Body appreciation serves as an essential protective factor for mental health. It is crucial to understand the relation between engagement on TikTok and body appreciation to determine whether this platform promotes body positivity or leads to body dissatisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 176 randomly selected Egyptian secondary school students (mean age = 15.78 ± 0.68). Demographic data was gathered, included an item asking whether participants used TikTok. The Bergan Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2) were utilized. Results: Students who regularly used TikTok revealed a statistically significant higher risk of social media addiction (p <0.001). Additionally, TikTok users showed lower levels of body appreciation compared to those who used other social media platforms (p = 0.011). Linear regression showed that TikTok use (Standardized β = -0.202, p = 0.006) and urban residence (Standardized β = 0.24, p < 0.001) were both significant predictors of lower body appreciation scores. Conclusion TikTok use may have an impact on social media addiction risk and body appreciation of adolescents, resulting in increased body dissatisfaction.