1 week ago
Of course it is, because it is developed in such a way to get you hooked on it as if it was a drug. Unlike YouTube or other platforms where you have to actively engage with the content, TikTok has done something revolutionary which is passive watching. Not saying it hasn't been done before, but rather, it hasn't been advertised enough to get everyone on it until TikTok came along.
So what did it do exactly? It used an algorithm that suits content based on your preference, usually very precise. How long you've spent watching certain clip, how many times you've rewatched or revisited it, how many times you've shared it/commented it or liked it. All of those interactions feeds the algorithm and let's it know what to promote to you. Once they have that, the algorithm gives you all of those clips you enjoy watching mindlessly.
Obviously it's not perfect, but that's what makes it even more addicting. Similar to gambling, once you experience your first win it's always difficult to stop going for more. Given your body/mind's reaction to it and it's way of associating what's worth doing more. Think of it like a little man in your head who knows you'll feel good once you hit that good spot as long as you keep doing what you're doing. Regardless of the potential harm it could cause in the long run which it inevitably does.
When you have passive watching, gambling like setting the possibilities are endless just like an addiction. Everyone believes they're capable of stopping it, but more often than not, you end up realizing that it's much harder than you thought.