What's happening in my brain that makes TikTok so addictive?

You’re kidding right? Jumping around like a lunatic is addictive? I don’t even know why my grand kids are so into it. But, to each his or her own I suppose.

I can easily get hooked on the animal ones and watch them for a couple of hours. I don’t even have an account with TikTok, but sometimes an article will mention an old dog who protects a tiny kitten…and off I go following the link.

I think it has something to do with Newton’s Law of Inertia.

I have a friend who is addicted to TikTok. I’m surprised she is. She never used Facebook a lot.

I never gave Tik Tok my time, because I found out when I first heard of it that the Chinese government has some sort of control over it.

I am addicted to Facebook and fluther, but I’ve never been a big video watching person. Even back to when MTV started, I was a teenager and some kids would watch music videos for hours. I was not into that at all.

Sure, all of these platforms try to design to trigger parts of the brain that are the same as any other addiction. Especially, if you want to avoid something in life you are primed for addiction. Sad, lonely, not fulfilled, you can fill your time and brain with TikTok or anything else that fills time, and for some people causes big releases of chemicals in the brain that make them feel good, or at minimum forget their woes temporarily. The release Can be the same as a drug.

I just watched this great documentary on PBS, TIk Tock Boom. It explains what you are referring to, with their use of Artificial Intelligence, etc.

https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/tiktok-boom/

Trying to reduce my use of my cellphone going to FB and etc. etc. rather unsuccessfully. The reason is because my cellphone is also my computer, my library, my post office, my pleasure palace, my coffee shop, family den, command center, evil lair and time machine!

My cellphone had not only taken my brain but also replaced it. I have no thoughts…until my hand ( without me being aware ) reaches for my cellphone and turns the screen…o…n…

… ….. …—-….

Hello. This is mazingerz88’s cellphone. Everything is fine. Have a wonderful day.

It mainlines you content and constantly adjusts itself to things it knows you will engage with. You are constantly being stimulated, without an obvious off ramp. More addictive is more profitable, and a self-regulated industry is an unregulated industry, plus it’s China. Why is it so surprising it would be addictive?