Where would you be right now if TikTok didn’t exist? Well, I think I would be spending lots more time on other social media platforms like Instagram.

Released in September 2016, TikTok has become the most downloaded app in the world since 2018. TikTok isn’t only exclusive to the youth, people of all ages have been captivated by TikTok.

The world is stuck on TikTok and because of that TikTok’s mission is to “Inspire creativity and bring joy,” another major part that separates TikTok from other social media platforms.

TikTok displays all kinds of videos to users, which include tutorials, dancing videos and food videos. TikTok is a user-friendly app. Users are able to create their own videos, comment on other people’s videos, and even network with each other and make actual careers from TikTok.

Has Tiktok had a negative impact on people? Yes, TikTok has been really harmful when it comes to spreading disinformation. Disinformation is extremely damaging and it completely changes someone’s beliefs towards something and their attitudes.

I encourage people to do more research on things they see on TikTok, than just believing every video they see and send it to friends or family and continue to spread misinformation. It’s very much recommended to do your own research on topics you come across, than believing the first source you come in contact with discussing that topic.

According to an academic report published widely in the media, TikTok is a “dopamine machine” that gives a flood of dopamine with every video. This is significant because the fact that TikTok is being compared to a dopamine machine gives readers a visualization and understanding of how TikTok truly is.

I do believe that TikTok is unique and different from other social media platforms because TikTok encourages people to spend more time scrolling on TikTok. This can be quite dangerous especially considering the fact that users of all ages have reported feeling like they might have an addiction to TikTok.

TikTok can be dangerous in many ways, According to Dr.Michael Manos, the Clinical Director of the Center for Attention and Learning at Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Spending large amounts of time on TikTok can lead to the brain to “find it difficult to adapt to non-digital activity where things don’t move quite as fast.”

TikTok keeps users’ brains very busy and provides users with new videos for their brains to focus on. When people tend to spend lots of time scrolling on TikTok,their brain becomes extremely familiar with the constant update and changes of the app.