Teens are using TikTok to talk about mental health, relationship abuse, and sexuality

For both creators and viewers, TikTok has become a platform where people can express isolating feelings like loneliness, insecurities, and depression. — Dreamstime/TNS

PHILADELPHIA: When David Geipel, 18, scrolls through TikTok, he sees videos of people speaking candidly about their struggles with mental health.

There have been a lot of these videos on the social media app recently, as people post honest recaps of their year. He wants to make a video like this too, but isn't sure how much he'll open up.