Young people battling cancer use TikTok and similar platforms not only for entertainment, but also to find support, express themselves and cope with loneliness. According to experts, this complicates the argument that social media should be banned completely for young people.
Many countries, including Türkiye, have already imposed a social media ban on people under the age of 15. Other countries have also taken action on this issue. While discussions about whether social media should be limited or banned for children and young people continue, a different use of these platforms is attracting more and more attention. Young people and adolescents living with cancer use social media platforms, especially TikTok, not only to pass the time, but also to find emotional support, connect with people who have similar experiences, and express their experiences.
According to Belén Jiménez, a psychologist and researcher at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, these platforms serve as “narrative spaces” for young people. Jiménez finds it insufficient to conduct social media discussions solely on screen time and emphasizes that the real question is what young people do on these platforms, who they communicate with and what role this plays in their lives.
A study conducted with young cancer patients in the USA also supports this picture. According to the research, almost all young people living with cancer use social media to connect with other patients. The main motivation for this use stands out as emotional support, obtaining information and communicating with people who have similar experiences. It is also noteworthy that TikTok and similar platforms are actively used on a daily basis in this process.
According to experts, for young people struggling with cancer, social media creates a space that reduces the feeling of loneliness and strengthens the feeling of being understood. These platforms function as a kind of “digital community”, especially for young people whose education life has been interrupted, who have moved away from their social environment, or who feel that they are not fully understood by their peers. For this reason, it is stated that completely restricting social media may have unexpected negative consequences for some young people.
However, the risks associated with the use of social media are not ignored. Experts remind that these platforms can create excessive visibility pressure on young people, encourage certain behavioral patterns, and algorithms can influence users. However, according to Belén Jiménez, the solution is not to ban these platforms completely; To ensure that young people use it consciously and safely.
Another important effect of social media emerges on the issue of identity. Many young people living with cancer do not want to be remembered only as “patients”. Despite this, they often express themselves through this identity on social media. According to experts, this situation is not a contradiction, but a natural part of adolescence. However, the problem arises when this identity becomes permanent in the digital environment.
At this point, the “oncological right to be forgotten” debate comes into play. This right aims to limit the obligation of cancer survivors to disclose their past illnesses, especially in areas such as insurance. However, social media stands out as a new element that makes this legal protection difficult. Because the content shared by young people or their social circle can remain accessible even after years. This creates a significant difference between legal oblivion and digital oblivion.
According to experts, this is not only a legal but also an ethical issue. Young people’s right to redefine their own identities may be limited due to content that becomes permanent in the digital environment. For this reason, it is stated that the approach to social media use should be based not only on prohibition, but also on guidance, education and awareness.
In conclusion, social media poses both risks and important opportunities for young people living with cancer. According to experts, the real issue is not to completely eliminate these platforms; To ensure that young people use these spaces in a safe, conscious and supportive way.
