TikToxic: Do we think for ourselves anymore? Part II / Blog

TikTok has had great influence over the globe since its popularity grew massively in 2018. Originally known as Musical.ly, it was the go-to app for dance, music and entertainment. Nevertheless, the app found its way into being an informative piece of social media. With users using it to spread awareness, inform about inequalities, mental health and much more. Has this constant bombardment of information however, led to us to think and feel in a way that may not be true to us?

What are my thoughts anymore?

With the complexity of our brains and how often we are mentally stimulated, it can be hard to decipher between thoughts of our own or passing thoughts. I used to spend on average a few hours a day on TikTok, at my best. Through the type of content, I was consuming I found myself saying "I hate men" "we don't need men" "white people can't speak up". "I have this diagnosis" I was concerning myself too much with the ideologies of others, not checking in with what was fact and what I actually believed. I have never actually felt that I hate men, that we could live without men, nor do I think white people don't have a voice. So, why was I allowing myself to say such things without meaning or reason?

The meditation teacher Enrique Collazo talks about watching thoughts pass and observing them. If we can observe our thoughts and realise that not all of them are that of our own but merely the brain trying to make sense of the world around us, can we make that differentiation? Very rarely are we mindful of our thoughts, very rarely do we observe our thoughts. So, without this practice how are we supposed to not question the endless ideologies we have roaming in our heads? With repetitive information being shared to us on the app, it has been shown to change our beliefs, well known as the illusory truth effect. This effect is where if we see the same information long enough, we soon enough start to believe it as truth. So, is it easier than we thought to be made to believe false 'truths' on TikTok? and without observing our thoughts, how do we know those thought were originally ours?

Do we know the line between our thoughts and others?

As mentioned in the first part of the series, TikTok can become addictive. If we find ourselves glued to the app, receiving endless amounts of others' opinions. Will we ultimately fall for that truth illusory effect? We are the 5 people we spend the most time with. If TikTok is 1 of them, are we slowly adopting behaviours and ideologies that aren't actually us? Being able to find that line will most likely, as shown earlier, be through the awareness of we are not our thoughts and observing them, analysing how we truly feel.

We rarely sit with our thoughts and ask, "do I actually believe this?". A lot of us don't really know where we sit with our morals and values in life, becoming confused in conflicting situations. "Do I speak up?" "Is it okay that they said that?". Our parents raise us to be projections of what THEY believe is right, but when was the last time we went through our own beliefs and was able to cement them in our morals and values, to not be later persuaded and our beliefs to be shifted?

In an article written by ZDNet, it discussed the use of the app's algorithm and how in order for its daily usage to remain consistent or grow, they use sensitive material in which the app doesn't predict what is wanted by the public but picks a specific array of topics to keep people enticed. This argued against the debate of "does it read my mind?", more so explaining that it created our minds. Through its choice of content, TikTok wants you to think a certain way and if they can show you enough of the same information, the illusory truth effect will come into play. This shows the use of the app being too influential on our own thoughts. We may think "I had this belief or thought all by myself" but our subconscious may be saying "TikTok told you this about 10 times, but you didn't really notice".

The widespread of misinformation:

TikTok has been known to help users reach millions of followers way quicker than any other app. Its outreach is incredible, as it's great for the spread of helpful sources such as informing users about their health. However, this has slowly manifested itself into misinformation. Some users are intentionally or unintentionally spreading misinformation. As said earlier, with the way in which the app feeds repetitive information, this could lead to believing things that may not be necessarily true.

TikTok users can be convincing, showing true conviction in what they have to say, allowing us to believe everything without second guessing. People are now saying "I think I have ADHD" "I think I have BPD" and further to my problem when I was using the app, saying and feeling things that really did not resonate with. If someone has enough confidence and it feels like they're coming from a place of reason and logic, are we willing to go play devil's advocate and question them? Most likely not, and with the repetitiveness of this through the algorithm it'll soon enough feel like nothing but the truth. With the problem of "too much information at once" we no longer find that line between our truth, someone else's truth and fact. With its addictive properties and problem with misinformation, is this even an app that will allow us to be critical, curious with knowledge and wisdom, leaving naivety at the door? Or are we simply allowing ourselves and our children to just be gullible to all assets of life?

These issues shed light on what we should worry about today, the iPad kids being normalised, the addictions to our phones. Showing, there is clearly a problem with the consistent use of social media, and not enough is being said about its impact on our brains and well- being. How will this therefore, affect the newer generations and their development? All we can do is inform ourselves and others, in hope we get the right message across.