Why TikTok and other social networks steal your attention (and your brain cells too)
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2025 8:38 am
TikTok is currently in the spotlight in the United States and could, in fact, be banned outright across the pond . Although the possible ban on the Chinese social network is directly related to privacy, it is important not to lose sight of other risks that TikTok also faces.
The impact of social media on mental health is widely documented and was even acknowledged in an internal investigation carried out by Facebook. However, the impact of TikTok and company on the cognitive abilities of its users is much more in the shadows.
Social media is trying hard to steal our attention. And the attention that TikTok and other social media networks so covet is not an isolated brain mechanism, but the result of a whole georgia phone number data plethora of mechanisms in different areas of the brain.
One of these mechanisms is called executive functioning , defined as our ability to focus on a specific task and to be able to avoid distractions. However, not all tasks are the same. It is easier to leverage our attention when we are engaged in an engaging and relatively fun task.
Attention, the coveted object of desire on social media
In order to entertain us, social networks constantly strive to track the content we interact with , which is not only what we anoint with our "likes" but also what we spend the most time on.
In this way, 2.0 platforms confront us with related content whose ultimate goal is to keep our eyes on it for as long as possible.
The way social media presents content to users is absolutely crucial. Many apps, for example, rely on infinite scrolling so that users simply have to swipe down to be treated to more content. Being exposed to a virtually endless stream of content, many users reach a so-called “flow state,” or optimal state, explains Colin McCormick, a cognitive science researcher at Dalhousie University in an article for Fast Company .
When we are in a flow state, we are so deeply involved in an activity that we lose track of time. This flow state can be highly advantageous for us at work, as it helps us stay focused and increase our efficiency when completing relevant tasks. However, social media tries to encourage this flow state with much more spurious interests: making it more difficult for us to leave their domains.
The impact of social media on mental health is widely documented and was even acknowledged in an internal investigation carried out by Facebook. However, the impact of TikTok and company on the cognitive abilities of its users is much more in the shadows.
Social media is trying hard to steal our attention. And the attention that TikTok and other social media networks so covet is not an isolated brain mechanism, but the result of a whole georgia phone number data plethora of mechanisms in different areas of the brain.
One of these mechanisms is called executive functioning , defined as our ability to focus on a specific task and to be able to avoid distractions. However, not all tasks are the same. It is easier to leverage our attention when we are engaged in an engaging and relatively fun task.
Attention, the coveted object of desire on social media
In order to entertain us, social networks constantly strive to track the content we interact with , which is not only what we anoint with our "likes" but also what we spend the most time on.
In this way, 2.0 platforms confront us with related content whose ultimate goal is to keep our eyes on it for as long as possible.
The way social media presents content to users is absolutely crucial. Many apps, for example, rely on infinite scrolling so that users simply have to swipe down to be treated to more content. Being exposed to a virtually endless stream of content, many users reach a so-called “flow state,” or optimal state, explains Colin McCormick, a cognitive science researcher at Dalhousie University in an article for Fast Company .
When we are in a flow state, we are so deeply involved in an activity that we lose track of time. This flow state can be highly advantageous for us at work, as it helps us stay focused and increase our efficiency when completing relevant tasks. However, social media tries to encourage this flow state with much more spurious interests: making it more difficult for us to leave their domains.