29 Oct 2021

TikTok tics phenomenon affecting teen girls

From Nine To Noon, 9:09 am on 29 October 2021
TikTok mobile video-sharing app company logo on phone screen with internet homepage in background.

Photo: 123RF

A mysterious outbreak of tics in girls and young women in some western countries has now surfaced in New Zealand. The teenagers are presenting with Tourette's-style ticks, but the malady has no medical basis.

Neurologists say the behaviour has surged during the Covid-19 pandemic, and appears to have been spread by social media.

Medical sociologist, and senior honorary lecturer at the University of Auckland, Dr Robert Bartholomew believes we're witnessing mass psychogenic illness, particularly attributable to the increased time teens are spending online during lockdown.

He says the current popularity of Tiktok videos featuring people with Tourette's syndrome appears to be a contributing factor.  

Auckland paediatric neurologist, Rakesh Patel says he's seeing an increasing number of teens presenting with tic disorders.