Ranking Member Cassidy Requests Information on Impact of TikTok on Louisiana Students

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, requested information from Louisiana educators regarding the impact of TikTok on the physical and mental health of Louisiana students. This comes after reports of Louisiana schools experiencing incidents arising from TikTok “challenges,” including acts of vandalism on school property and an assault on a disabled teacher. Cassidy hopes to use the input to better understand the impact of TikTok in Louisiana and to inform his legislative and oversight efforts on TikTok going forward.

The request was sent to all Louisiana school superintendents, who were encouraged to share the request with local administrators, faculty, and staff so they can convey feedback directly to Cassidy’s staff.

“While data privacy and potential security concerns associated with [TikTok], which is owned by a Chinese company, are well-known, studies have shown that certain aspects of TikTok’s functionality may also have serious consequences for the physical and mental health of children and young adults,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. “TikTok’s algorithm can reportedly identify and present users with content that reinforces unhealthy body image and eating habits, substance abuse, depression, and/or thoughts of committing self-harm or suicide.”

“As I represent Louisiana in national discussions surrounding TikTok, I would like to better understand the nature and extent of any problems that you, administrators, teachers, and other school personnel in your district are dealing with on a daily basis,” continued Dr. Cassidy. “All feedback that you and others choose to provide will inform my investigation and help me to better understand the impact that TikTok is having on schools and students in Louisiana.”

Read the full letter here or below. 

Dear Superintendent ____:

Like others in our state, I have become increasingly concerned about the risks associated with use of the social media platform, TikTok. While data privacy and potential security concerns associated with the platform, which is owned by a Chinese company, are well-known, studies have shown that certain aspects of TikTok’s functionality may also have serious consequences for the physical and mental health of children and young adults. As such, I am investigating these matters thoroughly. To that end, I would like to better understand the impact that TikTok is having on schools and students in your district and any steps that you and other school officials are taking to address related concerns. 

According to reports, TikTok is designed to analyze users and present them with content that they find highly engaging. This is a potentially dangerous formula when it comes to vulnerable youth who demonstrate an interest in unhealthy content. TikTok’s algorithm can reportedly identify and present users with content that reinforces unhealthy body image and eating habits, substance abuse, depression, and/or thoughts of committing self-harm or suicide.

Some TikTok videos even feature challenges that have reportedly encouraged young users to engage in substance abuse, as well as dangerous and destructive behaviors in our schools, including assault and acts of vandalism. According to reports, some Louisiana schools have experienced incidents traced to TikTok, including a case of assault in Covington, and cases of reported vandalism in Lafayette Parish.

As I represent Louisiana in national discussions surrounding TikTok, I would like to better understand the nature and extent of any problems that you, administrators, teachers, and other school personnel in your district are dealing with on a daily basis. Accordingly, I request that you consider responding to the following questions. Please also consider sharing this letter with interested school administrators, teachers, and other personnel in your district who have information they would like to share directly with my office. All feedback that you and others choose to provide will inform my investigation and help me to better understand the impact that TikTok is having on schools and students in Louisiana.

1. Please describe local policies in your district and at the individual school level relating to social media use by students. If you have adopted specific policies relating to TikTok, please provide details on those policies, their effectiveness, and how they have worked in practice.

2. Have schools or teachers in your district used TikTok for informational or educational purposes? Please explain any relevant background.

3. Have schools in your district experienced safety concerns or acts of vandalism or violence that have been traced to students’ use of social media platforms, including TikTok?  Please explain any relevant background.

4. Have teachers, guidance counselors, or administrators in your district observed students struggling with unhealthy habits, self-image problems, or signs of anxiety or depression that have been traced to students’ use of social media applications, including TikTok? Please explain any relevant background.

5. Have parents in your district expressed concerns to teachers or school administrators relating to problems stemming from students’ use of social media platforms, including TikTok?  Please explain any relevant background.

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