Problematic use and addiction The impact of TikTok dopamine on the brain can lead to the problematic use and, in extreme cases, TikTok addiction. This can have a range of negative impacts including disrupted sleep, neglected hygiene, poor school performance, family conflict and social isolation.
And one study from a non-profit group claimed TikTok may surface potentially harmful content related to suicide and eating disorders to teenagers within minutes of them creating an account. TikTok is far from the only social platform to be scrutinized by lawmakers and mental health experts for its impact on teens.
In particular, concerns have been raised around the dangers of the infinite amount of personalised short videos. A recent study shows that personalised TikTok videos activate reward systems in the brain and create higher addiction levels when compared to non-personalised algorithms.
Researchers have also reported increased anxiety associated with social media use. Some researchers have suggested that increased use of social media by adolescents is linked to an increased risk of anxiety disorders [31-35].
According to an article from Forbes, TikTok's algorithm keeps our dopamine levels at a concerning high. Every new video that pops up on your 'for you' page is a new dopamine hit, and you eventually crave more and more of this.
The social media platform allows its users to both create and watch short video content, that is primarily 15 seconds in length. People crave micro-entertainment and short bursts of video distraction, this is one of the main reasons for the app's popularity. Content is short, fun and on-trend.
But behind the screen, young users find themselves in a dark place – brain fog, anxiety, Tourette's syndrome, eating disorders, borderline personality disorder and multiple personality disorder.
“TikTok is perfect for the ADHD audience because the videos are short, punchy, and entertaining.” He warns that not all content on TikTok is factual, nor does it replace seeing a doctor. Researcher Anthony Yeung, MD, and colleagues viewed one hundred of the most popular TikTok videos on ADHD.
TikTok addiction can lead to a variety of physical, mental, and emotional health issues such as fatigue, irritability, and depression. It is important for users to recognize TikTok addiction symptoms before it becomes an issue.
Although teens think TikTok may be the most harmful social media platform, therapists and psychologists disagree. Instagram perpetuates additional issues due to the fact that users can alter their public image. Regardless, this is nothing new. Media has shaped the body standard for decades.
3 – Give yourself a time limit so you do not visit TikTok before noon or after 8 PM. Of course, you can choose different times based on your habits and personal goals. If you have trouble sticking to this rule, set up an app blocker on your phone to help. 4 – Find something else to do with your time instead.
TikTok Offers Tools for Creativity
TikTok is an all-in-one platform where you will find videos related to anything and everything. The app provides you with many ideas to get your creative juices flowing. If you are a fan of dance, you will find a vast collection of dance videos on the platform.
TikTok is fighting to stay alive in the United States as pressure builds in Washington to ban the app if its Chinese owners don't sell the company. But the wildly popular platform, developed with homegrown Chinese technology, isn't accessible in China.
Research has shown that TikTok is detrimental to one's body image. In fact, TikTok usage is associated with body dissatisfaction. The platform also caused increased upward appearance and body surveillance which increases body dissatisfaction even more.
TikTok is considered a social network because it offers great potential for making new friends and forming new connections. This platform has millions of users worldwide, so it can also be great for inclusiveness. Some teens are naturally shy, so making in-person friends can be difficult.
Increased stress, anxiety and depression
A study of high school students in China who regularly use TikTok found that those with addictive tendencies towards TikTok had higher rates of anxiety, stress and depression 2.
In an article shared on UX Collective in July 2022, PhD researcher and founder of Implement Privacy, Luiza Jarovsky, wrote about her 30-day experience on TikTok, calling the platform "manipulative, addictive and harmful to privacy". Luiza claimed TikTok's User Experience (UX) designs keep people glued to it.
TikTok is the most addicting app to Gen Z
And as our data shows it's also their favorite social media platform, it should come as no surprise that nearly half of Gen Z say TikTok is the most addictive one, too.
TikTok has announced that it's expanding its audience controls feature, giving creators the ability to restrict their videos to adult viewers. Prior to this expansion, the adult-only audience controls feature was only available for TikTok Live. Now the company is bringing the feature to its short-form videos as well.
Can someone with ADHD fall in love? While all kinds of people can fall in love, the experience of people with ADHD falling in love can be more intense for them. This is because the person with ADHD can hyperfocus on the person they are in love with.
“All of that stuff exacerbates our stress.” In addition, Barnhart said young users are often exposed to TikTok videos that fuel body dissatisfaction, appearance-related anxiety, exercise addiction and more. These videos can distort our self-image.
When people look online and see they're excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them physically. A 2018 British study tied social media use to decreased, disrupted, and delayed sleep, which is associated with depression, memory loss, and poor academic performance.