I thought about scrambling for a new topic this evening when TikTok was given a US reprieve. The likelihood that, in its current form, TikTok is here (again) to stay is slim. So, I decided to publish today’s epiphany as is. One more thing, if you squealed with delight when TikTok was restored . . . the break may have been the best thing for you. Too bad it wasn’t longer 😉
If you woke up anxious this morning, you may be suffering from TikTok withdrawal.
No, really. It’s a thing.
It’s a thing that many of those around you also may be going through, so this is definitely a good time to offer patience and understanding–even if you don’t understand at all. Let’s face it, we are a nation with an addiction to our tiny devices, and, in recent years, TikTok has launched that addiction into hyperspace. Take a seat at any restaurant, walk through any store, look to the car next to you at any stoplight, and you will likely see someone, head down, engrossed in tiny videos.
This is not good.
For those going through TikTok withdrawal, I encourage you to stand strong.
The anxiety will lessen the further TikTok is behind you and, honestly, it should be.
In the coming days, you will notice your brain spinning down as you begin to retrain it. You see, TikTok has amplified your brain’s need for instant gratification. This need started with the birth of social media and has skyrocketed ever since. What makes TikTok unique is that, unlike Facebook or Instagram, instant gratification is all TikTok offers. One can watch dozens of short blips and grab a quick hit of endorphins in a single minute.
It’s pretty rude, then, that TikTok left us so abruptly and without years of hints of its demise.
We call this cold turkey.
TikTok’s algorithm is specifically designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible by feeding them an endless stream of re-personalized content. TikTok’s aim is to send users into a limitless, mindless scroll, oblivious to the time they have lost. So what, you say? “What” is that this excessive screen time leads to reduced attention spans, disrupted sleep patterns, and decreased productivity.
TikTok leads the pack in users reporting challenges when trying to focus on schoolwork or work-related tasks or even managing basic household duties.
This is not good.
Still, many prefer to blame as many other things as possible just to avoid stepping away from TikTok.
Stress? It’s probably stress–I just need some time to relax (while scrolling). Anxiety? Right, that’s it. I’m anxious. Maybe I’ll drink some herbal tea (while scrolling). Exhaustion? I’m just tired, let me lay in bed for a bit (while scrolling). We strive to fix our lack of focus in any way possible–as long as it doesn’t involve eliminating the actual culprit.
We call this denial.
While TikTok is undeniably entertaining, it comes with a price. From mental health issues to data privacy risks–all signs point to eliminating TikTok as a step in the right direction, even if it gives users the shakes for a few days.
Why now?
TikTok is owned by a Chinese company that has long been accused of collecting user data in mass quantities. Of course, the collection of data on the socials is not a new concept. Many of us joke about how our phones are listening and how we will soon be spammed with ads related to personal conversations. Yes, what used to be terrifying has now become…something we joke about.
TikTok collects data beyond the norm and is dictated by whatever the Chinese government tells it to collect, from location to biometric data and everything in between. If you’re a user of TikTok and have not read the company’s fine print, you should. It’s quite invasive, and in another era, none of us would have signed up for something so aggressively intrusive.
Would you hand over your unlocked phone to a stranger on the streets? TikTok is the stranger on the streets and that stranger quickly drains your device of everything stored behind its glass.
Look, I love a quick hit. I am a dabbler in TikTok and Reels. Show me a Highland Cow taking a swim in the water trough and I’m instantly locked into whatever my feed blesses me with next. The key is recognizing when enough is enough. If I feel that pull to pick up my phone while justifying why it’s okay to take a quick peek at the dinner table, I know that I need to pump the brakes. If I feel the need to let go of my husband’s hand for a quick scroll through the socials, I know I need to put my phone well out of reach.
It’s all about recognizing when your brain has locked into the quick hits of happiness that sites such as TikTok offer and reverse course, stat.
If you woke up anxious this morning, you may be suffering from TikTok withdrawal.
While it certainly doesn’t feel good, I encourage you to hang in there.
Give it a week or a month and really cleanse yourself of that urge to mindlessly scroll. I encourage you to do this regardless of TikTok’s return. Use this break as a moment to change your course.
Take a walk, read a book, have a taco.
You got this. We all do.