It started innocently. I had finally caved after a few of my friends convinced me and before I knew it, the algorithm had me in a chokehold. The app felt like a breath of fresh air compared to other social media apps. One minute, I'm watching a girl transform thrift store finds into runway-worthy outfits, and the next, I'm deep into conspiracy theories about why pigeons might be government spies.
TikTok isn’t just any app, it sucks you in and warps time. I always say, “Let me scroll through TikTok for 10 minutes”. Those 10 minutes quickly turn into an hour, then two, and before I know it it's been 3 full hours. 3 hours I could have spent doing something productive—like classwork, cleaning my room, or even learning something new. But instead, I scroll for 3 hours, learning nothing but what drama is happening in the Sims community at the moment.
Research supports my addictive nature. According to Brown University School of Public Health, “Elements of app design and functionality, namely the variable reward pattern of the content stream, the simple, “flow-inducing” interface, and the capability for “endless scroll,” capitalize on classical conditioning and reward-based learning processes to facilitate the formation of habit loops and encourage addictive use”.
The real problem is that the 'For You Page' knows me better than I know myself. It shows just the right mix of dance trends I’ll never attempt, life hacks I’ll never use, and absolutely hilarious comedy videos that leave me in tears at 2 a.m. The app is everything every other social media app tries to replicate but just misses the mark.
When I do decide to use one of those horrid Meta apps, normally Instagram, the vibe is all off. It feels like hundreds of monitoring sprits, even in the close friends it feels like my “closest friends” are just watching me. Not liking my stories or even interacting with it. I think even if I were famous I wouldn’t use the app.
Instagram is a cesspool of hateful people watching your next move to see if you fail. And as someone who has a fear of failure already, if you think I’m posting on there… you’re very much mistaking. I mean just go and quickly scroll through Reels, then the comments and comeback and tell me what you see.
But TikTok has a sense of community. It’s like one big inside joke—and if you don’t have the app, you’re not in on it.
Maybe my issue is FOMO—fear of missing out. Or maybe I lack the type of community that Tik Tok offers me. Whatever it is I've tried to quit—deleted the app, sworn off scrolling—but somehow, I always find my way back. It’s like a toxic ex you're just not ready to give up yet.
Maybe it's the endless scrolling, the bizarre humor, or just the unpredictability of what I’ll see next. Whatever it is, TikTok has me hooked. And honestly? I’m not even mad about it—yet.