Research Probes TikTok Algorithm's Impact on Youth Mental Health

Georgia Tech-led study to audit TikTok's recommendation algorithm and understand its effects on adolescent users' behavior and wellbeing.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 12:28am

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A new study led by Georgia Tech professor Munmun De Choudhury will use data from over 10,000 adolescent TikTok users in the UK to examine how the platform's algorithm impacts young people's mental health. The $1.7 million, four-year project is funded by the Huo Family Foundation and will collaborate with researchers from the University of Cambridge and UCLA. The team aims to characterize the types of content young users are exposed to and how that affects their consumption behaviors and overall wellbeing.

Why it matters

Social media platforms have faced increasing scrutiny over the potential harms their algorithms pose to young users, particularly around mental health issues. This research aims to provide a clearer picture of how TikTok's recommendation system influences adolescent behavior and could lead to design interventions to minimize negative effects. Understanding passive social media consumption is also crucial, as prior studies have focused more on users' active engagement.

The details

The research team will analyze TikTok data, including watch histories, from over 10,000 consenting adolescent users in the UK. This data was collected by University of Cambridge professor Amy Orben in accordance with EU privacy regulations. The researchers will use AI to simulate realistic TikTok feeds and study how the algorithm's recommendations influence the types of content users are exposed to. They hope this will provide insights into the "consumption rabbit holes" young people may fall into on the platform.

  • The research project is a four-year study that began in 2026.
  • The data was collected from UK adolescents in 2024 by University of Cambridge professor Amy Orben.

The players

Munmun De Choudhury

A professor in Georgia Tech's School of Interactive Computing who is leading the research team.

Amy Orben

A professor at the University of Cambridge who collected the TikTok data from over 10,000 young people in the UK.

Homa Hosseinmardi

An assistant professor at UCLA who is collaborating on the project.

Yan Huo

The founder of the Huo Family Foundation, which is providing $17.6 million in funding for 20 new research grants exploring the impact of digital technology on young people.

Mark Zuckerberg

The CEO of Meta, who recently testified in court to defend his company from accusations that social media harms children.

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What they’re saying

“We hope to learn the different types of negative exposures that young people experience when using TikTok. This can help us characterize what they're watching and build computational methods to understand the consumption behaviors of these participants and how they're affected by the algorithm.”

— Munmun De Choudhury, Professor, Georgia Tech School of Interactive Computing

“Digital technology is profoundly shaping childhood and young adulthood, yet there is limited causal evidence of its effects. We are proud to support exceptional researchers advancing vital scientific understanding.”

— Yan Huo, Founder, Huo Family Foundation

What’s next

The research team plans to use AI to simulate realistic TikTok feeds and study how the algorithm's recommendations influence the types of content users are exposed to. This will provide insights into the "consumption rabbit holes" young people may fall into on the platform.

The takeaway

This study aims to provide a clearer picture of how TikTok's algorithm-driven content affects adolescent mental health, which could lead to design interventions to minimize negative impacts. Understanding passive social media consumption is crucial, as prior research has focused more on users' active engagement on these platforms.