By Kaitlyn Whiteman, Clarion Staff reporter
TikTok, it is one of the most used apps worldwide with 1.04 billion monthly active users and 170 million people use TikTok in the US. With this much active use, the daily average is about 53.8 minutes to about 60 minutes per day. But you may be asking yourself, how does this connect to the title? This data shows that many people are using this social media app for long periods of time, and the dependence on this app is increasing among 18–24-year-olds.
The short-video concept is what has made TikTok what it is today. The short videos allow a person to continuously scroll through thousands of videos that have been personalized just for the watcher through the “For You Page.” TikTok’s algorithm selects content suitable for users, making the site highly addictive.
TikTok allows users to not only watch videos, but to create them. Some may use the app for the micro-entertainment and short bursts of video distraction, while others use it to seek validation from complete strangers. This validation can lead you down a dangerous road to continuously go back and check your account to see how your newest post is doing or if you have gained a new follower. This constant checking can start to lead to certain behavioral such as depression and withdrawal symptoms when denied usage, nervousness when discussing TikTok usage, anxiety before and after using the platform, extreme denial of addictive characteristic, acting out, low self-esteem and fears of rejection on the platform, and the desperate need for validation from others.
Behavioral changes aren’t the only result from overuse of the platform: extensive use can lead to back pain, neck pain, headaches, and carpal tunnel syndrome, this can also lead to insomnia or a persons' ability to get sleep and the quality of sleep, and issues with your vision. Overuse may also lead people to neglect their personal hygiene. If people become over-reliant on phones to overcome depression and loneliness, then the pressures of social media or misreading text messages can make these emotions worse.
The use of technology has become abundant in recent years, but it is always important to really check on yourself and ask whether or not you are over reliant on certain apps to make yourself happy. But always keep this question in the back of your mind: am I addicted to this?
Some ways to overcome an addiction to a social media platform:
Set time limits for social media use with a password that only a parent or guardian know
Use apps to monitor your usage
Find alternative activities to fill your time (reading, exercising, art,etc.)
Practice mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques
Seek support from friends and family.
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