Does TikTok cause stress?
“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.
The participants were primarily Caucasian (77.1%) and aged 18-25 years old (69.9%), with the mean age of participants being 29.58. Higher rates of depression, anxiety, and stress were positively correlated with more social media use and TikTok addiction.
“The app provides an endless stream of emotional nudges, which can be hard to recognize and really impact users in the long run,” Faddoul said. “It's not going to make anyone depressed overnight, but hours of consumption every day can have a serious impact on your mental health.”
Correlation is not causation, and these studies (and others like them) don't show that using social media leads to depression or anxiety. It may be that people who feel depressed and anxious turn to social media in hopes of learning more and feeling better.
One of the main effects of watching TikTok for prolonged periods of time is that doing so lowers your attention span. This is the result of a constant stream of new videos and new stimulation on the app.
Long-term use of Instagram is also associated with an elevated risk of developing an eating disorder, as well as depression. TikTok may increase one's risk of developing an actual tic and may lower attention spans in users who spend more than 90 minutes a day on the app.
Even they feel worried and insecure when reading them. Negative comments can severely impact one's self-esteem and confidence, and even result in self-harm or body image issues. Teens must be resilient if they are going to use this app to post videos.
A psychologist said the personalised algorithm on TikTok may be leading young people to get addicted. Dr Nia Williams, of Bangor University, said TikTok becomes addictive because it releases dopamine into the brain, making you feel good.
Is TikTok safe? It's as safe as just about any other social media platform. It doesn't infect your phone with malware, but it comes with some safety risks like scams and saved user data.
Is TikTok worse than other platforms? TikTok collects rich consumer information, including personal information and behavioural data from people's activity on the app. In this respect, it's not different from other social media companies.
How does TikTok impact social issues?
Government officials and child-safety advocates maintain that TikTok's computer algorithms pushing video content to users can promote eating disorders and even self-harm and suicide to young viewers.
Reasons for TikTok Addiction
It creates a constantly updated and personalized flow of short and entertaining clips that create an intense emotional impact, an immediate flood of dopamine, and the feeling of missing out if you do not keep watching to see the latest viral video.
TikTok users identified as "at-risk" of addiction tended to score higher in terms of loneliness and extraversion, while female TikTok users were also more likely to be "at-risk" compared to male users. The findings also showed that social media users can be addicted to one platform but not another.
Teens who are “addicted” to TikTok experience worse depression and anxiety, and in turn, reduced working memory capacity. A study among teenage TikTok users found that those who showed addictive tendencies toward the platform performed worse when recalling number sequences.
Using it activates the brain's reward center by releasing dopamine, a “feel-good chemical” linked to pleasurable activities such as sex, food, and social interaction. The platforms are designed to be addictive and are associated with anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments.
The term 'TikTok brain' is used to describe some of negative aspects associated with the platform including lower attention spans and increased anxiety and depression. Too much time spent on TikTok can become problematic and lead to addiction.
Research shows that social media can negatively impact your health by increasing feelings of depression, anxiety, and even insomnia. If you find that your relationship with social media is hurting you, you can try going on a “digital detox,” or quitting social media for some time.
Eases anxiety
A 2019 study found a positive relationship between social anxiety, loneliness, and social media addiction. Social media use can cause FOMO and a sense of inadequacy. This may lead to loneliness, anxiety, and depression. Stepping away from social media may help reduce FOMO-induced anxiety and loneliness.
Social media harms
However, social media use can also negatively affect teens, distracting them, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumor spreading, unrealistic views of other people's lives and peer pressure. The risks might be related to how much social media teens use.
Our attention spans will shorten, causing a domino effect of other issues: We won't be able to engage in deep work requiring intense concentration. We'll spend less time face-to-face and more time tucked away with a screen.
What happens if you watch too much TikTok?
Watching TikTok for long periods of time can negatively affect your short-term memory, attention and concentration (Berzin, 2019).
A psychologist said the personalised algorithm on TikTok may be leading young people to get addicted. Dr Nia Williams, of Bangor University, said TikTok becomes addictive because it releases dopamine into the brain, making you feel good.