Why TikTok Is Bad for Your Brain

As with any social media app, TikTok should be used with caution and with an eye to both mental health and to the impact that too many instant, short-form videos may have on your brain.

While the benefits of TikTok are clear, revolving around the social benefits and the fact that users from all walks of life can go viral with the right video and by jumping onto the right trends, there are dangers and hazards to be aware of…

1. TikTok challenges sometimes border on dangerous, with annual fatalities as a result of challenges that have gone wrong. These are most often seen in younger users.
2. The short and bitesize format of TikTok videos means that they may impact our long-term attention span.
3. TikTok is addictive and can cause users to interact less with real people, favouring online videos and interactions instead.
4. TikTok removes the need for people to research via traditional methods. Countless users approach TikTok as a learning tool and use it to find out more about certain facts – affecting reading skills and concentration.
5. TikTok perpetuates comparison and can impact the mental wellbeing of younger users especially.
6. TikTok is entertaining and relieves boredom instantly – making it more difficult to engage users with other activities and forms of entertainment.

How to Use TikTok Safely

There’s nothing to say that TikTok damages the brain or even has any form of negative impact on the mental wellbeing of users – provided it is navigated safely and with a wary approach to potential overuse.

For younger users, limiting daily usage can be a good way to strike the right balance.

It’s also important not to use TikTok as a comparison platform between yourself and other users, approaching it as a primarily entertaining social platform and a way to engage with fun trends.

Finally, challenges should again be approached with caution and should be avoided if they are considered potentially dangerous.

Happy TikTok-ing!