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Is TikTok Bad For Your Brain?
If you are thinking of starting a TikTok channel, you might be wondering if it is bad for your brain. There are some risks of overuse, including shortened attention spans, reduced short-term memory, and even Racism. If you have any of these issues, or you want to know if you should avoid using TikTok, read on. Here are some benefits of this video-sharing app.
Attention span
According to a study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the attention span of humans has decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to eight seconds in 2013. While the cause of this decline is not entirely clear, some researchers have suggested that social media, including TikTok, may be having an effect on the human attention span. Read also : How to Talk Over a Sound on TikTok Without Voiceover. Kimberly Bernock, a psychologist who treats people with conditions such as depression, substance abuse, grief, and ADHD, notes that many of her patients are TikTok users.
In addition to being entertaining, TikTok videos are short and last only 15 seconds. The average human attention span is eight seconds, according to a Microsoft study. It dropped to 12 seconds by 2021, which is below the attention span of goldfish. Regardless of the reasons, TikTok has lowered attention span and pushed YouTube to the back burner. Therefore, the question is: is TikTok aiming to compete with YouTube?
Short-term memory
There are many theories on why tagging your friends on TikTok can be bad for your brain. According to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist, TikTok is addictive because it increases the release of endorphins. Read also : How to Become a TikTok Moderator. These neurotransmitters produce feelings of pleasure and motivate people to find more tagging opportunities. This behavior is often accompanied by other negative mental effects.
According to Current Biology, dopamine is a key component of attention. When dopamine is released, our brains tend to pay more attention to similar things. However, TikTok does not promote long attention spans. In addition, adult brains are not prone to changes in attention spans as young ones’ do. So, although it is still important to practice good mental health habits when using social media, it may not be harmful for your brain.
Anti-Semitism
If you’ve ever wondered about the rise of anti-Semitism on Tiktok, you’re not alone. TikTok users have been plagued with anti-Semitic posts and hate speech, and this trend has only grown over the past few months. This may interest you : How to Text on TikiTok. In fact, more than a dozen reports have been filed with the Better Business Bureau regarding anti-Semitism on TikTok, and the problem continues to rise.
Although anti-Semitic comments are rare, some videos featuring Jewish creators and discussing Judaism often include anti-Semitic content. In fact, some videos have garnered millions of views in half a year! The anti-Semitic remarks are so disturbing that the Ramaz students have taken action to prevent the spread of anti-Semitic content.
Racism
Racism on TikTok has become an increasing problem for young people, especially as the coronavirus outbreak sparked new viral memes. Racist, anti-Chinese and anti-immigrant posts have surfaced, but it is a misperception that teenagers do not care about. On the other hand, some Asian TikTok creators are making fun of the problem by making racist memes.
While couples posting on the platform may attempt to change their followers’ perception of race, the nation’s long-tortured relationship with race often hijacks the script. While performers are trained to deal with hostility, some have reported reeling from racial insults. One white woman with an African American husband launched a family TikTok in 2020. But her message to followers is not only offensive, it’s also counterproductive.
Racism on TikTok
Recent research shows that racism on social media is detrimental to our brains, but what is the cause? It turns out that racism on TikTok is not confined to the video app. It’s also common in other platforms, including YouTube and Facebook. But how bad is it? In an effort to prevent more teenagers from posting racist videos, the app has launched a diversity collective.
Although this new initiative is still a work in progress, it seems to be making some progress. For example, this month TikTok announced a new incubator program to invest in Black creators. In addition, the platform recently announced a grant program to support creative Black artists. The company is making progress, but it is still far from equality. And that’s not all.
Addiction to TikTok
While we generally associate addictive forces such as drugs and alcohol with addictions, they are also true for social media. Addiction to TikTok can have negative effects on the brain. The brain does not develop fully until a person reaches the age of 25. However, many people are still young when they first discover the social media app. That’s why, although the app can be entertaining, it is bad for your brain.
The constant updating of the video app makes it difficult to break the habit of passively scrolling through it. “You get so used to it that you can’t break your habit once you’ve started,” said Dr. Michael Manos, clinical director of the Center for Attention and Learning at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. “If you have a digital addiction, you have trouble separating yourself from your device.”