After using the app and exploring all of its features, I would rate this app a 3 out of 5 due to the superficial content that is provided for users. Although the app does provide a multitude of different activities such as puzzles and quizzes, the content is very trendy and non-clinical. For example, some of the quizzes that users can take are “the color quiz” and “leadership style”. These quizzes are not aimed at reducing stress or improving mood as the app claims it does. The puzzles that users are able to do are also repetitive in nature. For instance, every puzzle requires the user to rearrange the tiles until the full picture or quote is revealed. Once the user solves the puzzle, it is fairly easy to resolve it which can make the user bored. Even though these activities are simplistic, engaging in them can benefit users by distracting users from their small everyday stressors for a short period of time which is a strength of this app. Another strength of this app is that the content incorporates material that adolescents are familiar with. As mentioned in “Why Teens Hate Therapy; Mistakes Therapists Should Avoid”, in order to connect with adolescents, we must utilize language that is more natural rather than ritualized clinical language (Edgette, 2012). This app was able to incorporate topics and content that adolescents are both interested in and familiar with by using a language that adolescents understand. An example of this are the TikTok’s that users can watch on a wide range of topics like school, anxiety, family drama, identity, etc. These are all topics that adolescents are either struggling with or currently experiencing which makes the content in this app relatable. At the same time, this app also includes videos that are not necessarily relevant to mental health such as videos on US history, cars, destination vacations, ASMR, etc. Incorporating these videos takes the focus away from mental health and forces users to shift their attention elsewhere. As mentioned earlier, the content on this app is rather superficial and more entertaining than educational which is a disservice to adolescents who utilize this app in hopes of getting help with their mental health. Apps like this one may shy away from incorporating content that is based on research or that is more clinical in nature in order to appease its target population. Moreover, app creators may also believe that adolescents are not necessarily prepared to have deeper discussions about mental health due to their preconceived notions of this developmental stage. This is understandable but as discussed in the Social Work Podcast, the adolescence stage is an age of opportunity meaning educators as well as social workers should expose adolescents to material that will be useful for their brain development (Singer, 2014). An example of useful material is mindfulness which can help adolescents develop better self-control (Singer, 2014). Although the BeMe: Teen Mental Health app already provides users with short one minute meditation videos that users can follow along with, improving the quality of these videos could greatly benefit users. For instance, increasing the time length could benefit users as well as guided meditations with either audio or subtitles options. Incorporating content that promotes mindfulness rather than trendy TikTok’s is a great way to help support adolescents during this important developmental stage.
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