TikTok is one of the most popular social media websites in the present times. First created in 2016 by the Chinese company ByteDance, it was launched in its present form in 2018, and by 2021, it has gained about 1 million monthly users. Prevalent among teenagers and adults alike, TikTok is a highly downloaded app of all time.
The fast and endless entertainment offered by this app manages to keep people hooked to it. The physical and mental health issues have increased so much due to this that “how to stop TikTok addiction” has become a frequent question asked on the internet.
Table of Contents
What is TikTok Addiction?
TikTok addiction is the constant need to use TikTok. It does not matter if you are alone at home or at a social gathering, scrolling continuously or obsessively checking notifications counts as being addicted to TikTok.
The never-ending personalized feed of videos that are only a few seconds long can be overwhelming. But you find yourself unable to stop scrolling because of the constant dopamine that gets secreted in your brain while this doom-scrolling.
Not just watching videos but uploading videos also makes you addicted to TikTok, and you start craving the netizen’s attention. It can manifest into anxiety, low self-esteem, and loss of focus, among other negative impacts.
Reasons for TikTok Addiction
The endless stream of addicting, short and entertaining content can create an intense emotional impact. As it is tailored to your interests to keep its engagement high, it becomes extremely difficult to remove yourself from this hotspot of all pop culture references. The fear of missing out (FOMO) enters in all its glory if the thought of missing out on the latest viral video passes your mind, hence again continuing the doom scrolling. It starts with the “For You” suggestions that are specifically structured according to your liking to get you hooked.
It is important to understand how to stop TikTok addiction because its interface and many features, such as the ability to create and share content, challenge other users, and collaborate with popular accounts, do not help you peel yourself away from your phone. The entertainment emotionally rewards you so that you not only have the pleasure center of your brain boosted but also begin to feel like part of a social group.
Signs You Are Addicted to TikTok
There can be several signs to warn you before your addiction to TikTok manifests into something potentially life-threatening. These include:
- Obsession with TikTok notifications: When you are a content creator on apps like TikTok, you inevitably find yourself constantly checking your phone for notifications. However, an excessive need for such validation can really affect your mental health, so spending time away from your phone is absolutely non-negotiable.
- Neglecting other activities: Once you start noticing yourself neglecting your other everyday tasks and spending excessive time on TikTok, you should stop and reflect. The videos will resurface, but the time you have lost will not come back.
- Compulsive use of features: The availability of numerous filters, transitions, and editing tools makes it impossible to fight the urge to try them all out. But if you find yourself persisting in trying them out, it means you are addicted.
- Rushing to post videos: Recording videos and rushing to post them as soon as possible to keep your audience updated points towards your addiction and how you are unable to give it till the event or festival is over to edit the video and then upload it relaxingly.
Impacts of TikTok Addiction
How to stop TikTok addiction has slowly become a genuine concern due to the following impacts of this addiction:
- Mental health issues: The need to keep up with the ongoing trends or jump on the hate bandwagon for some past actions of a pop star can severely degrade your mental health and give rise to anxiety and depression. Also, seeing the “perfect lifestyles” of creators can make you feel insecure about your own.
- Less attention span: The videos on TikTok are barely 30 seconds long. Once you become accustomed to watching such short-length videos, your attention span will reduce, and you will not be able to pay attention even in your lectures.
- Not adequate learning: TikTok is not considered a platform for videos that give life advice, tips on how to lead a healthy lifestyle or even educational videos. Even if some videos resurface that are remotely educational, they remain incomparable to in-person meaning.
- Physical health problems: Being on your phone for the majority of your day can cause an aching neck and dry eyes. The blue rays can cause headaches, which ultimately lead to fatigue. Continuous scrolling might also lead to a trigger thumb.
How to Stop TikTok Addiction?
It is crucial to regulate your time on TikTok so that it does not interfere with your everyday activities. It is also essential to recognize and address any underlying issues that may be contributing to the addiction, such as loneliness, stress, anxiety, or depression. Here are some ways on how to stop TikTok addiction:
- Record the time you spend on the app. You only know how deep the rabbit hole is once you see the answer in concrete evidence.
- Do not engage with content creators who do not add any real value to your life. While it might be entertaining to watch their videos, it can also be highly unhealthy.
- Give yourself a time limit to use the app only in that specific period. You can tailor it to your needs and other tasks as it is a personal goal. If you have trouble following this, get an app blocker to help.
- Find something else to do instead. Fill up your social calendar with lunch dates with your friends or start a new hobby that keeps you preoccupied and away from the dopamine-boosting activities of TikTok, which are very addictive if you have nothing else to do.
Conclusion
TikTok can offer high social status and positive reinforcement that can quickly become addictive. A like or comment on a post is the simplest way to get validation. But it is essential to realize when this thirst for validation starts to take over other aspects of your life.
Be digitally responsible and know when and how to stop TikTok addiction before it ruins your life in ways you could have never imagined. Although in some countries, such as India, where the government has banned this app, alternatives like Instagram Reels are quick to rise to fame, so it is you who is responsible for managing the usage of addictive social media apps for your own benefit.
FAQs
How to stop being addicted to TikTok?
Limit the amount of time you spend on TikTok, avoid using it in social gatherings, and instead actually socialize and meet people in real life, not just on a phone screen.
Why is TikTok so addictive?
TikTok offers escapism through its fast-paced videos, which are a source of endless dopamine. It is easy to get caught in the web of an unlimited amount of media and become addicted to it.
How to break the TikTok habit?
The first step is always to delete the app. If that seems too extreme to start with, limit your time on the app and instead spend the time you thus get outdoors with friends and family or doing something productive.
