SOCIAL media apps have changed how people engage and enjoy their entertainment.
TikTok, which is the new kid on the block, enjoys a significant 6,44 million active users in Mzansi. According to ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, users are above the age of 18 and nearly 16,1% of the users are reached by TikTok advertisements.
As much as this is fascinating for companies that use the platform to promote their businesses, users are reportedly getting addicted to the app.
BBC reported that some students have decided to delete TikTok during their exams.
It is reported that pupils were spending too much time on the popular social video app.
I for one have found myself sleeping late, continuously watching entertaining videos on the app and infinitely scrolling for more content without keeping track of time.
That alone is a sign of falling prey to the personalised algorithm on TikTok, which makes you spend more time on it than on other more important things. According to Dr Nia Williams, a psychologist at Bangor University, TikTok becomes addictive because it releases the dopamine hormone into the brain, making you feel good.
“Because TikTok videos are short and sweet, they keep your attention going from one to another,” Williams told BBC.
Here are some tips shared by Dr Williams to help you deal with a possible TikTok addiction:
- Try to put your phone away.
- Avoid browsing through social media networks before you sleep.
- Uninstall the app on your phone, even if it is for a week or a month.
- Find new habits to do with your phone that are less time-consuming.
With that said, do not let boredom control you into scrolling your precious time away and be in control of your devices.
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