Motorola is adding more muscle to its smartwatch lineup. Unveiled at CES 2026, the $150 Moto Watch combines a polished design with Polar-backed health tracking, bringing the insights of a sports watch to to a smartwatch that looks just as much at home in the gym as it does at the office.

Photo By CNET

If you're looking for your next hit of double experience in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, you're not alone. While developer Treyarch frequently runs double XP weekends for the most recent Call of Duty game, not every player can take advantage of the full event.

Photo By CNET

This autonomous ride drove me through an underground tunnel to dodge traffic. It's the precursor to Tesla's Robotaxi, which is slated to begin production in the coming years.

Photo By CNET

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today's Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Photo By CNET

As therapy stays out of reach for many, social media and therapy speak is reshaping how we talk about our feelings

January 16, 2026

• TikTok has become the top source for mental health terminology, as cost keeps many Americans from accessing traditional therapy.
  

• Therapy speak can help people express emotions but experts warn its often oversimplified or misused online, potentially delaying real care.
  

• Mental health content on social media can be a starting point, not a substitute, with licensed professionals still key for accurate guidance and support.
  

---

Mental health language has officially gone mainstream, and for millions of Americans, social media is becoming the go-to place to learn how to name and explain their emotions.

That shift isnt happening just because its trendy. A new survey from behavioral health providers BreakThrough by BasePoint found that cost is now the biggest barrier keeping people from therapy, with more than half of Americans saying it prevents them from getting professional help.

As a result, many are turning to alternatives like friends, social media, and even AI chatbots for emotional support despite lingering doubts about how accurate or helpful that advice really is. TikTok, in particular, has emerged as the top source for mental health terminology, influencing how people describe everything from stress to trauma.

But is learning therapy speak online actually helping people understand themselves better or is it oversimplifying complex mental health issues? And wheres the line between useful self-awareness and misinformation?

To unpack what this trend means for consumers, ConsumerAffairs spoke with Monica Clayborn, LPC, Vice President of Quality and Outcomes, about why mental health language is everywhere right now and how to use it in ways that support, rather than replace, real care.

The risks

According to Clayborn, the biggest risk in using platforms like TikTok for mental health education is mistaking exposure to mental health content for actual care.

Social media and AI chatbots arent properly equipped to handle real crises, diagnose conditions, or offer treatment, she said. When 73% of adults find online mental health content/speak to be performative or inaccurate, thats a huge red flag for buying in on surface-level advice, or even misinformation that can delay or derail proper care.

Are there concerns?

With many consumers replacing mental health care with social media, Clayborn says there is certainly a cause for concern here.

It would be strange NOT to be concerned, she said. Sure, social media apps are now the top exposure point for mental health language, even for AI chatbot users, but theres a growing gap between terminology and actual understanding.

Knowing the words isnt the same as knowing what they mean, and when to apply them in real life. You have these terms like boundaries or gaslighting that are frequently used out of context, and its taking serious concepts and turning them into trendy buzzwords that can water down their real meaning or foster toxic dynamics. When these words lose their impact, its hard to take what they really are seriously.

Helpful vs. hurtful

If you find yourself down a mental health TikTok rabbit hole, Clayborn suggests being a vigilant online user. She recommends that consumers always verify the source before taking any next steps with the information they get from videos.

Licensed professionals should always be your starting point, she explained. Pay attention and look for disclaimers and citations, and be wary of content that sells you on instant solutions or uses overly simplified language.

If the advice makes you feel empowered or grounded, thats a good sign. If it causes anxiety, guilt, or a sense of urgency, I wouldnt call it helpful; Id call it manipulative.

The cost barrier

With over half of survey respondents saying that cost prevents them from accessing mental health care, Clayborn wants consumers to know that there are other places to turn before TikTok.

Community clinics, peer support groups, and university training programs are all better options if youre looking to save money and still receive care, she said. For more day-to-day support, apps with CBT-based exercises or chat features can be pretty helpful, but they should supplement, not replace, professional care.