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Would You Take Mental Health Advice From TikTok?

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Would You Take Mental Health Advice From TikTok?

Think about the advice you have seen on TikTok or other social media platforms. How often do you find these tips — whether they are about health, relationships, skin care, fashion, fitness or anything else — helpful? How often do you question if they are based on fact? How much do you care about whether the people creating the content identify as experts, or at least have a background in what they’re talking about?

Are there instances in which an influencer’s credentials matter more than others? For example, do you think it matters if someone talking about depression or anxiety is a mental health professional? Or is it just as valid to be speaking from one’s lived experience?

Earlier this year, a group of researchers from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University assembled a group of mental health influencers who collectively had an audience of 10 million followers. They attended lectures and received tool kits on mental health as part of an experiment to determine whether influencers could be persuaded to disseminate more evidence-based information on social media.

In “Harvard Cozies Up to #MentalHealth TikTok,” Ellen Barry explains the thinking behind the study:

The surgeon general has described the mental health of young people in America as “the defining public health crisis of our time.” For this vulnerable, hard-to-reach population, social media serves as a primary source of information. And so, for a few months this spring, the influencers became part of a field experiment, in which social scientists attempted to inject evidence-based content into their feeds.

“People are looking for information, and the things that they are watching are TikTok and Instagram and YouTube,” said Amanda Yarnell, senior director of the Chan School’s Center for Health Communication. “Who are the media gatekeepers in those areas? Those are these creators. So we were looking at, how do we map onto that new reality?”

The article continues:

Many academics take a dim view of mental health TikTok, viewing it as a Wild West of unscientific advice and overgeneralization. Social media, researchers have found, often undermines established medical guidelines, warning viewers off evidence-based treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy or antidepressants, while boosting interest in risky, untested approaches like semen retention.

TikTok, which has grappled with how to moderate such content, said recently that it would direct users searching for a range of conditions like depression or anxiety to information from the National Institute of Mental Health and the Cleveland Clinic.

At their worst, researchers said, social media feeds can serve as a dark echo chamber, barraging vulnerable young people with messages about self-harm or eating disorders.

“Your heart just sinks,” said Corey H. Basch, a professor of public health from William Paterson University who led a 2022 study analyzing 100 TikTok videos with the hashtag #mentalhealth.

“If you’re feeling low and you have a dismal outlook, and for some reason that’s what you are drawn to, you will go down this rabbit hole,” she said. “And you could just sit there for hours watching videos of people who just want to die.”

Ms. Basch doubted that content creators could prove to be useful partners for public health. “Influencers are in the business of making money for their content,” she said.

Ms. Yarnell does not share this opinion. A chemist who pivoted to journalism, she found TikTok “a rich and exciting place” for scientists. She views influencers — she prefers the more respectful term “creators” — not as click-hungry amateurs but as independent media companies, making careful choices about partnerships and, at times, being motivated by altruism.

In addition, she said, they are good at what they do. “They understand what their audience needs,” Ms. Yarnell said. “They’ve done a huge amount of storytelling that has allowed stigma to fall away. They have been a huge part of convincing people to talk about different mental health concerns. They are a perfect translation partner.”

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

  • Have you encountered mental health information on TikTok or other social media platforms? If so, what has been your experience? Have you found the information and advice there helpful? Or have you ever found yourself down an unsettling, perhaps even dangerous, rabbit hole?

  • Do you ever struggle to separate good mental health advice from bad online? What would make you trust someone who is sharing mental health information on social media? What would make you not trust that person?

  • What is your reaction to Harvard’s experiment? Do you think attempting to “inject evidence-based content” into young people’s social media feeds is a good way to address the youth mental health crisis? Why or why not?

  • Did the scientists’ reasons for doing this work reflect your experiences with social media? Do you think that people more often look to influencers for information, instead of approaching professionals, like licensed therapists? Why do you think that is?

  • Do you think that if mental health experts began posting videos on TikTok, they would soon have large audiences? What would they need to do, or perhaps not do, to reach the people they want to help?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

Word of the Day: bafflement

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Word of the Day: bafflement

The word bafflement has appeared in 25 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Oct. 24 in “Is Roz Chast ‘Terrible at Decorating’? You Decide” by Joanne Kaufman:

Soon after the couple moved in, Ms. Chast’s mother-in-law, a kitchen planner, drew up designs to take down a wall and combine the kitchen and dining room. New glass-fronted cabinets, painted a pale lilac, were installed. Later, a computer room replaced the screened porch. “It just wasn’t us,” Ms. Chast said. “Not the porch. Not the screens. None of that was us.”

Each to her own, of course. Despite the existence of an actual living room, the previous owners, to Ms. Chast’s endless bafflement, routinely gathered in a small, unprepossessing space off the kitchen. It is now home to parrots Eli, an African gray, and Jacky, a Caique.

Can you correctly use the word bafflement in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how bafflement can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

What’s Going On in This Picture? | Nov. 6, 2023

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What’s Going On in This Picture? | Nov. 6, 2023

1. After looking closely at the image above (or at the full-size image), think about these three questions:

2. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)

3. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.

Each Monday, our collaborator, Visual Thinking Strategies, will facilitate a discussion from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time by paraphrasing comments and linking to responses to help students’ understanding go deeper. You might use their responses as models for your own.

4. On Thursday afternoons, we will reveal at the bottom of this post more information about the photo. How does reading the caption and learning its back story help you see the image differently?

We’ll post more information here on Thursday afternoon. Stay tuned!

More?

• See all images in this series or slide shows of 40 of our favorite images — or 40 more.

• Learn more about this feature in this video, and discover how and why other teachers are using it in their classrooms in our on-demand webinar.

• Find out how teachers can be trained in the Visual Thinking Strategies facilitation method.

Students 13 and older in the United States and the Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

When Have You Felt That You Mattered?

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When Have You Felt That You Mattered?

When somebody tells you that you “matter,” what does that mean to you? How does it feel?

Can you think of a specific time when you felt that you mattered? Perhaps it was when you helped score a goal, contributed to a group project or were the person a friend turned to in a time of need. What did it feel like for others to see you as important and needed?

In “Want to Believe in Yourself? ‘Mattering’ Is Key,” Gail Cornwall writes about why experts say we crave this sense of usefulness:

Gordon Flett came across the term “mattering” as a psychology graduate student. Sitting at his desk in 1987, poring over a textbook, “I immediately knew what mattering was,” he said.

He remembered visiting his grandmother during the summer as a child and taking trips to the insulation plant where she managed the cafeteria. She hung on his every word, and her co-workers treated him like royalty. Recalling the experience, he could almost taste the Jell-O and chocolate milk.

The article goes on to explain what mattering means:

Mattering is “a core, universal human need,” a necessary component for well-being, Dr. Flett said. But it’s tricky to define, he added, because people sometimes confuse it with belonging, self-esteem and social connection.

Mattering involves “more than feeling like you belong in a group,” he explained; it’s also being “missed by people in that group if you weren’t there.” When it comes to self-esteem, you can like yourself and feel capable, Dr. Flett said, but “you still won’t be a happy person if no one notices you when you enter a room.”

To matter, people must feel valued — heard, appreciated and cared for — and they must feel like they add value in ways that make them feel capable, important and trusted, said Isaac Prilleltensky, a professor at the University of Miami and a co-author of “How People Matter.” It’s a two-part definition: feeling valued and adding value.

And experts suggested some ways to increase your sense of mattering, including:

Identify your strengths. Think about a time when you felt useful, Dr. Prilleltensky said. Or pinpoint areas where you’re already adding value and figure out how you can kick it up a notch.

While people can be good at many things, true strengths are things that we’re good at, that we choose to do and that make us feel good while we’re doing them, said Lea Waters, a professor of positive psychology at the University of Melbourne and the author of “The Strength Switch.”

Adjust your relationships. In “How People Matter,” Dr. Prilleltensky and his co-author (and wife), Ora Prilleltensky, recommend telling people why and how much you appreciate them. Try something specific like, “It meant a lot to me that you took out the trash before I got home because you realized I’d be tired from work.”

Volunteer your time. Fighting for a cause is one path to mattering, Dr. Prilleltensky said, though “you don’t need to be Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King.” Make a sandwich for someone experiencing homelessness, for example, or attend an event hosted by an organization you believe in. Just getting started begets the kind of satisfaction and recognition that makes you feel valued, he said.

Students, read the entire article and then tell us:

  • Are you surprised to learn that feeling that you matter is a key to happiness, better relationships and self-compassion? Why or why not? What is something you read that resonated with you?

  • Where and with whom do you feel that you matter most? Why do you think that is?

  • Tell us about a specific time when you felt that you mattered, as Dr. Flett did in the beginning of the article. What was the situation? Who were you with? What made you feel like you were both valued and adding value?

  • In general, do you feel that you matter, to yourself and others? For example, are you in relationships with people who make you feel important? Are there circumstances beyond your control that have made you believe you don’t matter, such as living in a society that doesn’t value your identity? How do you think your sense of mattering, or not, affects you?

  • How could you increase your sense of mattering? Which suggestions from the article might you like to try, and why?

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Student Opinion questions here. Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate these prompts into your classroom.

People and Penguins

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People and Penguins

Use your imagination to write the opening of a short story or poem inspired by this illustration or, describe a memory from your own life that this image makes you think of.

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to learn more.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public and may appear in print.

Find more Picture Prompts here.

Word of the Day: sumptuous

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Word of the Day: sumptuous

The word sumptuous has appeared in 152 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year, including on Sept. 16 in “Withstanding the Passage of Time, but Not the Shaking of the Earth” by Vivian Yee and Aida Alami:

Elsewhere in Marrakesh, several museums, as well as the 16th-century El Badi Palace (often translated as “The Incomparable”) and the late 19th-century El Bahia Palace (“The Beautiful”) were closed to visitors. Experts have judged them to be in serious condition, and what appeared to be materials for shoring up the structure of El Badi were piled outside the palace on Wednesday.

The palaces stand in the walled ancient core of the city, known as the Medina, a sprawling spiderweb of narrow alleyways lined with doors that can lead to humble apartments or sumptuous riads — mansions built around courtyards and, in many cases, turned into guesthouses. Residents said the apparently untouched or lightly cracked exterior walls of the homes hid serious destruction within.

Can you correctly use the word sumptuous in a sentence?

Based on the definition and example provided, write a sentence using today’s Word of the Day and share it as a comment on this article. It is most important that your sentence makes sense and demonstrates that you understand the word’s definition, but we also encourage you to be creative and have fun.

Then, read some of the other sentences students have submitted and use the “Recommend” button to vote for two original sentences that stand out to you.

If you want a better idea of how sumptuous can be used in a sentence, read these usage examples on Vocabulary.com.

Students ages 13 and older in the United States and the United Kingdom, and 16 and older elsewhere, can comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff.

The Word of the Day is provided by Vocabulary.com. Learn more and see usage examples across a range of subjects in the Vocabulary.com Dictionary. See every Word of the Day in this column.

Celebrity Relationships, Police Robots and the Mall: Argumentative Writing by Teens

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Celebrity Relationships, Police Robots and the Mall: Argumentative Writing by Teens

I personally very much like the idea of having a robot guard in the subway stations. Especially since Korea has faced some problems recently about people with knives making disruptions in the subway stations. Also, sexual harassment has always been a problem in subways because they don’t have evidence and because there are no cameras. But now, the robots can record everything to help people be safe and sound. The robot also looks very huge and cute which I think is a point that young children might like.

— Leo, seoul

I am both skeptical and supportive of the robot cop. The idea of what it is might be beneficial. The robot saves money, will stop some crime, and doesn’t seem too nosy as long as there aren’t that many in a certain area. But the idea isn’t always what comes to fruition. I don’t trust that the robot will be able to prevent crime by itself well, I don’t trust that eventually the robots will continue to run without eventually getting the ability to have facial recognition, and I don’t trust that the robot will not make mistakes or malfunction. As long as the robot doesn’t necessarily directly interfere with people, like if all the robot does is be a system that alerts cops to come, or people can use to alert cops to help, and the robot doesn’t get too much surveillance, like facial recognition I would be in support of it.

— Dylan, glenbard west HS

The simple answer is no. A hulking security camera on wheels is probably the farthest thing from a solution to the crime happening around the city. It’s not even a probable start; the inability to take action, the expenses, the obvious avoidance of the real problem. The government needs to stop looking for flashy, technological shortcuts to solve a much larger problem. If the government cannot figure out a solution to prevent crime with their police force, full of trained officers with the capacity for humanity and understanding, what will a cold piece of steel have to offer? When I think of someone in a crisis, I don’t imagine them running to a glorified camera, a robot that can offer at best, documentation of a crime or an alert to an officer but will stand silently, unable to prevent a crime from happening right in front of it. My biggest problem is that the government has put more money into another project that is not proven to have a positive impact while ignoring the problems with their already established task force. I would support a program like this if I knew there was a sure improvement in the lives of citizens with a machine like this available, but without knowing what this is going to do exactly to assist, many people, including myself, will not advocate for it.

— Lucy, Glenbard West IL

Currently, robots are replacing lots of jobs, especially jobs requiring physical labor. As we can see in this photo, a robot is also used for security in the subway station. I don’t trust robots in every way, but I think they would be able to monitor passengers and people better than security guards. I see lots of cameras mounted inside the robot, which will be in place of the security guard’s sharp eyes. Those cameras will probably have a function that humans can’t, such as scanning objects. In addition, I see wheels that’ll help the robot move. Due to these functions that I can expect, I would welcome this robot in my town.

— Noak, SPPS

Although New York City is going to deploy a security robot in one of its subway stations, I would most definitely not welcome one in my town or city. There are so many things that could go wrong, and like Mr. Radlein exclaimed, “What if someone pushed it off the platform? Does it [even] have brakes to stop itself?” Moreover I just don’t like the concept of having robots replacing humans. They require programming, which means all their behavior must be pre-determined. They typically cannot handle unexpected situations. So if they are not programmed for the situation, they cannot work around it because they lack critical thinking. In addition they are not reliable, so why should we trust them to be a police officer or even a security guard? And most importantly, they affect the environment negatively because they require energy in order to operate. Therefore, the more we use them, the more energy would be required. For all these reasons, security robots would most definitely not be welcomed in my town.

— Daniya, Glenbard West

Interleaving Improves Learning for All Learners

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Interleaving Improves Learning for All Learners

References:

(1) Taylor, K., & Rohrer, D. (2010). The effect of interleaving practice. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 24, 837-848. https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.1598

(2) Rohrer, D., Dedrick, R. F., & Burgess, K. (2014). The benefit of interleaved mathematics practice is not limited to superficially similar kinds of problems. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21, 1323-1330. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-014-0588-3

(3) Kornell, N., & Bjork, R. A. (2008). Learning concepts and categories: Is spacing the “enemy of induction”?. Psychological Science, 19(6), 585-592.

(4) Yan, V. X., & Sana, F. (2021). The Robustness of the interleaving benefit. Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition, 10(4), 589-602.

(5) Hebert, E. P., Landin, D., & Solmon, M. A. (1996). Practice schedule effects on the performance and learning of low-and high-skilled students: An applied study. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 67(1), 52-58.

Mastering Productivity: A Guide to Five Time-Tested Methods

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Mastering Productivity: A Guide to Five Time-Tested Methods

Ask any leader what the secret to their success is and they’ll say it’s to master productivity in a world filled with constant distractions and endless to-do lists. Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, we’re all faced with this same struggle. Fortunately, there are several time-tested methods that can help you become more efficient and achieve your goals. In this guide, you’ll learn important lessons about streamlining your productivity, improving your focus, and more by investigating these tried-and-true techniques: Pareto’s Principle, How to Eat the Frog, the Eisenhower Box, the Pomodoro Technique, and the Ivy Lee Method.

5 Proven Productivity Techniques for Success

It’s been established that the key to success lies in mastering productivity because it allows people to accomplish more in the same amount of time. The time-tested, highly efficient productivity techniques to job management, making the most of your time, and increasing efficiency range. Let’s explore the universe of productivity tactics to determine which one is most effective for you.

Pareto’s Principle (The 80/20 Rule)

Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian economist, introduced the 80/20 rule, which has since become a fundamental principle in time management and productivity. The essence of Pareto’s Principle is that 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Two key things are found in this technique, namely, prioritise and focus on what’s important to get you 80% of the way. Secondly, the remaining 20% separates the good from the perfect.

  • Identify the most crucial (vital few) tasks that yield the greatest results.
  • Prioritise your time and energy on high-impact tasks.
  • Delegate or eliminate tasks that provide minimal value, the “trivial many.”

By focusing on the tasks that truly matter, you can significantly increase your productivity and accomplish more with less effort.

How to Eat the Frog

The “Eat the Frog” method is a strategy developed by Brian Tracy for dealing with challenging or unpleasant tasks. The idea is simple: tackle your most dreaded task first thing in the morning. Here’s how to implement this approach:

  • Know your frog: Identify the task that you’ve been avoiding or that seems the most daunting. These are the deep work tasks that you can complete in a couple of hours.
  • Eat your frog: Start your day by working on this task with full concentration and determination. This means no emails, no check-ins, and no meetings.
  • Reap the reward: You took advantage of your most productive and efficient working hours to complete your goals. Once you’ve completed the difficult task, you’ll experience a sense of accomplishment, reduced stress, and increased motivation.

Eating the frog early in the day allows you to free up mental energy and tackle other essential activities with a sense of achievement.

The Eisenhower Box (Eisenhower Matrix)

The Eisenhower Box, also known as the Eisenhower Matrix, is a decision-making and time-management tool that helps you categorise your tasks based on their urgency and importance. It was famously used by former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The matrix consists of four quadrants:

                      

“What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.” – Dwight Eisenhower (34th President of the United States of America)

By organising tasks in this way, you can effectively prioritise what needs to be done and reduce the time spent on less significant activities. This method empowers you to focus your efforts on tasks that truly matter.

The Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method that emphasises working in short, focused intervals with regular breaks. This approach is designed to maximise your productivity and maintain concentration. Here’s how it works:

  • Choose a task you want to work on
  • Set a timer for 25 minutes, which is called a “Pomodoro”
  • Work on the task with full concentration until the timer rings
  • Take a 5-minute break
  • After completing four Pomodoros, take a more extended break, lasting 15-30 minutes

This technique encourages efficient work and prevents burnout, making staying productive throughout the day easier. The structured intervals help you maintain focus and stay on track.

The Ivy Lee Method

The Ivy Lee Method is a simple yet highly effective productivity technique that Charles M. Schwab, a successful businessman, hired Ivy Lee to implement at his company. The method consists of the following steps:

  • At the end of each workday, write down the six most important tasks you need to accomplish the next day.
  • Prioritise these tasks in order of importance.
  • The following day, focus on the first task until it’s completed, and then move on to the next task.

The Ivy Lee Method encourages prioritisation and a clear focus on critical tasks, reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed and enhancing productivity.

The five productivity methods outlined in this guide—Pareto’s Principle, How to Eat the Frog, the Eisenhower Box, the Pomodoro Technique, and the Ivy Lee Method—offer valuable strategies for managing your time and tasks more efficiently. But they are not a one-size-fits-all technique. What works for others, may not necessarily work for you. You must experiment with these methods and tailor them to your unique needs and preferences. 

By incorporating these techniques into your daily routine, you can regain control over your time, reduce stress, and achieve your goals with greater ease. Whether you’re aiming for personal or professional success, these proven methods can help you supercharge your productivity and make the most of your valuable time.

 

Film Club: ‘Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now.’

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Film Club: ‘Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now.’

“Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Pick a Side. Now.” is a four-minute Opinion video that explores the role of social media in the current Israel-Hamas war, and whether it allows any space for nuance or neutrality. “The insistence on picking a side,” the Times filmmakers argue, “threatens the public’s ability to take a holistic view of what is happening, to recognize and acknowledge atrocities irrespective of their perpetrators and to honor and mourn those who lost their lives.”

How persuasive is the film? Do you agree that social media is only making the current crisis worse? Have you felt pressured to post your reaction to the Israel-Hamas war online — and to pick a side?

Students

1. Watch the short film above. While you watch, you might take notes using our Film Club Double-Entry Journal (PDF) to help you remember specific moments.

2. After watching, think about these questions:

  • What questions do you still have?

  • What connections can you make between this film and your own life or experience? Why? Does this film remind you of anything else you’ve read or seen? If so, how and why?

3. An additional challenge | Respond to the essential question at the top of this post: In the Israel-Hamas war, social media demands that we have to choose a side. Is that helping, or only making things worse?

4. Next, join the conversation by clicking on the comment button and posting in the box that opens on the right. (Students 13 and older are invited to comment, although teachers of younger students are welcome to post what their students have to say.)

5. After you have posted, try reading back to see what others have said, then respond to someone else by posting another comment. Use the “Reply” button or the @ symbol to address that student directly.

Want more student-friendly videos? Visit our Film Club column.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

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