At first glance, posts online about poor mental health on social media look like everyday teenage confessions. Videos of people crying, venting or sharing their struggles might seem like fleeting moments of vulnerability — but behind them lies a darker trend: the romanticization and glorification of poor mental health.
On platforms like TikTok and Instagram, a growing number of young users are participating in what some call a “sad aesthetic” — content that glorifies depression and self-destructive behaviors. Experts warn this phenomenon not only normalizes these struggles but also makes mental illness seem aspirational. And as youth suicide rates and mental health crises in teens increase, it’s worth asking whether this glorification is fueling the problem.
Social media algorithms are built to maximize engagement. The more time a user spends interacting with depressive or disordered content, the more of that content they’re shown. Before long, an impressionable teen can find themselves in a digital echo chamber of harmful videos.
According to a report done by the Associated Clinic of Psychology in 2025, social media takes advantage of strong emotions for traction.
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“Algorithms boost emotionally charged posts — especially negative or sensational ones,” the article said. “This encourages doomscrolling: compulsive scrolling through bad news, which worsens anxiety and depression.”
In another study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate, researchers created TikTok accounts to test how quickly harmful content appeared. They made “standard” accounts with neutral usernames and “vulnerable” accounts with usernames referencing mental health. All were set to the minimum age of 13.
“Once the social media app’s algorithm kicked in, content about suicide surfaced on the ‘standard accounts’ feed as early as 2.6 minutes in, and content about eating disorders popped up within eight minutes,” according to an ABC news article. “‘Vulnerable’ accounts, meanwhile, were recommended three times as many harmful videos and 12 times as many self-harm videos as the ‘standard’ accounts.”
Self-expression has always been a healthy part of coping with mental illness. In the best cases, it helps people find solidarity and support. But on social media, the line between sharing and showing off can blur.
As posts romanticizing mental illness gain likes and comments, a growing number of teens are starting to see being mentally unwell as cool.
Physicist Marc D. Feldman from the University of Alabama, labels this as Munchausen, a type of factitious disorder where people fake or exaggerate illness online to attract attention. Since he first coined the term in 2000 Feldman said he has noticed an increase in Munchausen as more videos and photos are posted online.
“In 2000, posts to social media were largely through words, with videos being particularly unusual,” Feldman said. “This change opens the door to very dramatic presentations that are even more engaging than those posted with words only.”
Platforms like TikTok and Instagram have made some effort to flag and remove harmful content, but critics say it’s not enough.
In the absence of stronger regulation, media literacy becomes essential. Teaching younger generations how to understand and question the content they consume can help them recognize when vulnerability crosses into glorification. Open, honest conversations about mental health can be key tools in helping young people navigate the complex landscape of social media.
Creators also have a role to play. Influencers can help shift the culture by promoting recovery, showing therapy as normal and speaking honestly about the hard work of healing without glamorizing the illness itself.
Ultimately, mental health deserves to be talked about, openly and often. But there’s a fine line between destigmatization and glorification. Real mental illness isn’t pretty. It’s messy and complex. And it can’t be captured in a 15-second video.
Please contact the following resources if you have safety concerns or need immediate help:
Call 911 and request a C.I.T. (crisis intervention team) trained officer to assist you
Crisis Text Line: text “home” to 741-741
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
Bill Wilson Youth Hotline (24-hour Suicide & Crisis Line): 408-850-6125
Trevor Lifeline LGBTQQ+ Crisis Support: 1-866-488-7386
Andi Barker, Mental Health Specialist: [email protected]