“TikTok has been the greatest invention since the internet”, some might say. It’s created boundless entertainment for millions of people all over the world and has even created new forms of employment for entertainers, content creators, and “TikTok Shop” influencers, where TikTok users scroll through live streamers showing off products for purchase.
History of TikTok
To explain the rise of TikTok, it’s important to talk about the rise of short form content and its impact on society.
Short form content became popular in 2013 thanks to Vine, a social media app revolved around making 6 second humorous clips. A year later, Musical.ly was founded to compete in the realm of short form content. Musical.ly’s original focus was on lip syncing and dancing, which grew widely popular among American teenagers. In a few short years, Musical.ly had amassed millions of users. By 2017, a Chinese company called “Byte Dance” acquired the app for $800 million dollars. In 2018, Byte Dance had merged all of Musical.ly’s users and content onto the new app, Tik Tok.
Utilizing the same short form content and endless scroll UI feature, TikTok gave birth to many internet celebrities like Mr.Beast and Charlie D’meilio, who started off as online influencers, are now make millions doing brand deals, hosting their own shows, making music, and more.
With the app having gained a massive user base, many American social media companies got to the drawing board to see if they could re-create TikTok’s success. After some experimenting, American apps have copied the “endless scroll” concept, each now having their own version of the TikTok feature either called “Reels” or “Shorts” depending on the app you’re using.
Interestingly, China itself has its own version of the app, called Douyin. While it looks and functions much the same, its content is carefully curated to align with public interests and education. Keep that in mind when considering the effects TikTok and similar platforms have on users elsewhere.
TikTok Recent Events
In recent years, TikTok has faced growing controversy, especially around privacy and national security. In April 2024, the US government passed a bill to ban the app in the United States due to concerns regarding data privacy, and the potential threat of unwanted surveillance. The ban was set be officially placed in January 2025.
When the time came for the ban, a motion was passed extending the ban deadline by 75 days. The reason for the delay was that the US government wanted to make a deal with Byte Dance that led to the US government possessing 50% ownership of the app. As the battle for control waged on, the deadline was extended several more times in April, June, and September with the newest deadline on December 16, 2025.
Addiction by Design
You may be wondering why these apps are so popular in the first place. The answer: Over-production of dopamine.
According to Neurolaunch, dopamine, the brain’s reward system, plays a big role in why we can’t stop scrolling: When we receive something pleasurable, dopamine is released, motivating us to repeat that behavior. Social media acts as a dopamine loop:
- Users perform an action (like scrolling)
- Anticipate a reward (new content)
- Receive a response (typically something humorous or mildly educational)
- Get dopamine
- Repeat the cycle (scroll again)
The unpredictability of new content makes scrolling that much more compelling. Similar to slot machines and gambling. Over time, overstimulation may lead to desensitization of dopamine pathways, meaning more stimulation is needed to achieve the same “reward” experience, making day-to-day activities like work, exercise, and socialization less rewarding, and thus less likely to be repeated.
Expanding on the mental health impacts, constant engagement with social media can be associated with depression, anxiety, and loneliness. Many argue that the design of social media encourages social comparison, which can foster feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and dissatisfaction with one’s own life.
Influence and Manipulation
When our decision-making is compromised by addiction, we become easier to influence. Social media companies, and sometimes larger institutions, understand this. The same feedback loops that keep you scrolling also make you more receptive to advertising, trends, and even social or political narratives.
Historical cases like Cambridge Analytica have shown us how data-driven targeting can shape public opinion. While TikTok itself may be wrapped up in ongoing debates about ownership, regulation, and privacy, the bigger picture is that these platforms hold extraordinary power. They can shape what people see, how they feel, and in turn, what decisions they make.
What can I do?
With recent events regarding social media, it’s worth learning how these apps are designed so you can protect your physical, mental, and social well-being. If you come under the realization that you or someone you know is addicted to social media, there are methods to break that addiction.
Limiting Social Media Through Screen Control
One of the most effective ways to cut back on social media is to control how much time you spend on it. Start by setting app timers using built-in phone settings or third-party tools and make a habit of checking your weekly usage reports to track progress. You can also schedule a “focus time” so that all unnecessary apps (determined by you) aren’t accessible within certain time periods, like when you’re working, before bed, during meals, etc. You can look into additional social media privacy settings here.
Reducing the Visual Pull
Social media apps are designed to capture your attention, but you can weaken their pull by changing the way they look. Switching your phone to black-and-white mode (or reducing the saturation and color contrast) makes scrolling less exciting. Visual changes can make a big impact on how often, and how long you look at your phone for.
Reshaping Your Environment
Another step is to take control of your home screen. Move social media apps off your front page or set them to only be accessible at certain times or locations. Additionally, consider using hidden folders to add an extra layer of friction. The less visible and convenient these apps are, the less likely you’ll open them out of habit.
Going Cold Turkey
Sometimes, the best way to reset is to step away completely. Deleting social media apps for a period of time can create immediate relief. You’ll notice improvements in focus, clarity, and even life outlook all on day one.
TikTok isn’t unique, it’s just the latest and most powerful example of how social media platforms are engineered to capture and hold attention. While they provide fun, connection, and creativity, they also reshape how we think and feel, often without us realizing it. By understanding the addictive design and taking steps to counter it, we can reclaim not just our time, but also our independence.