Yes, I genuinely believe so and I use myself as the subject of this here statement and experiment.
Why do I think this I hear you ask?
It’s simply based on a few things I have so far deciphered over the past few months of actively becoming a user of the app;
- the efficacy of the app
- the wiring of the human brain
- the current state of global affairs
The app is like no other, it is good but the overall concept isn’t new; it is, however, the first to collectively cater video content to you and for you by algorithmic decisions that you have somewhat consciously made.
Is this a good thing?
Yes and no.
Can it make you dumber and dumber? Absolutement.
Are you afraid of the future, AI, and all things robotic-led? Perhaps… you should be.
TikTok takes you out of your subconscious and keeps you in a fake world of must-see ‘content’ — by showing you the things you think you care about. No one has time nowadays to hone their streams nor the content they see so most of the time, the majority of us just sit there, like mindless drones, watching, scrolling, what we have been ‘prescribed’.
Seem familiar yet baffling, doesn’t it?
The creators of the app have somewhat gotten away with pairing all our likes, dislikes, and even mid-likes, then regurgitating them, in short streams of content for us, the prospective users.
How do they do that I hear you ask? Well, have you ever actually read what the app has access to on your phone once you download and constantly use it day by day? You might want to check what you have legally consented to.
At least with other apps such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, you only need to look at the last sets of search results or a user’s explore page to see what they have either been searching for or what they have interacted with in the past.
TikTok negates all of that yet it keeps countless users [including myself] glued to it by rewiring our brain — the bit which enjoys endless streams of nothing content. Everything is now, entertaining, comedic and frightening all in one go.
Ah…good old dopamine.
Given the state of the world and everything that’s constantly happening, TikTok tricks many users’ minds with the message of ‘connectivity’ — an opportunity to feel part of humanity by visually allowing you to see beyond your ‘world’, alas, the reality is rarely shown.
The majority of what you see and are fed is nothing short of topical dance crazes, memes, ‘how to become a millionaire before you’re born’, tutorials, despicable things people are doing for money and much more.
Where does it end?
The dulling of an era.
With more consumption of TikTok, you find your brain begins to replace facts, figures, and important cognitive skills with nothing but the endless ruminating of dances and made-up songs you’ve spent your day digesting — yes, you have begun stage one of brain fog.
So, what can you do about all of the above?
Nothing.
Stop and or limit your time using the app to enjoy the numbing feeling of losing brain matter, as everything becomes a sing-a-long fest of nothingness.
Do it now before it’s too late… minutes become hours, hours become days, days become years and so forth.
