Teenager warns of dangers of self-harm content on TikTok in Denmark

Nineteen-year-old Stinne Hjarbæk Madsen demonstrates a repetitive motion as her right thumb swiftly scrolls through concerning content on her iPhone. She expresses unease over the easily accessible nature of troubling videos on platforms like TikTok, especially for vulnerable individuals. Stinne recalls spiraling into a dark online space during a challenging period in her life, leading to self-harm.

With TikTok flooded with clips showcasing self-injury techniques and glorifying the act, Stinne feels the platform is a breeding ground for harm. She emphasizes how exposure to such content shaped her thoughts and actions, creating an unhealthy cycle where watching distressing videos led to more severe self-destructive behavior. The platform’s algorithms exacerbate this issue, as users are shown more of what they interact with, pulling them deeper into a negative mindset.

Stinne highlights the concerning prevalence of self-harm among young people, noting that over one in five ninth-grade students have harmed themselves. She describes the videos as “triggers” that can intensify the desire to self-harm, particularly in a community where competing for more extreme methods becomes commonplace.

Despite her progress in overcoming these impulses over the past two years, Stinne continues to encounter harmful content on her feed. She criticizes TikTok for failing to effectively manage and remove such videos, believing it poses significant risks to impressionable viewers who might be pushed towards self-harm.

Stinne asserts that sharing these videos serves as a cry for help from suffering individuals, but acknowledges the dual responsibility of both the platforms and those posting harmful content. She calls for greater awareness and action to address the detrimental impact of such online material.