The Dark Side of TikTok: How Is It Affecting Society?
TikTok, a well-known mobile application, has charmed not only young adults but also children and elderly people. People are doing weird stuff, girls are being vulgar, and boys are acting like girls!
But you can’t complain. If you want to, many will show up and claim how Tiktok has changed their lives. Credit has to be given where it is due. But these success stories are coming at a price.?
The platform lets users upload short videos of 15 seconds to 1 minute. These videos go viral easily, and many people have gained overnight popularity. Kudos and claps for them. But these are only the bright sides. How about the dark side of TikTok??
Why Is TikTok A Threat?
TikTok is an entertaining platform. But wrong use of this platform is causing various issues that we are still overlooking.
1. TikTok is Selling Your Data
Many apps do this. But Tiktok is the most notorious one. And sadly enough, it also possesses the most data among those applications. URL Genius has expressed its concerns regarding TikTok stealing secret data. The platform states:
“Consumers are currently unable to see what data is shared with third-party networks, or how their data will be used.”
The most concerning issue is that most of the users of the platform are young adults. 32.5% of its users are only between the ages of 10 and 19, while nearly 30% of users belong to the 20 to 29 demographic.?
TikTok allowed up to 1.4 million children under the age of 13 to use the platform in 2020 despite its own rules requiring users to be at least 13 years old.
Now, a big question is often thrown at those who try to talk about these dark sides of the platform. “What is the value of these data of young children?”
The UK's data regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), found that TikTok's actions meant children's personal data may have been "used to track them and profile them, potentially delivering harmful, inappropriate content at their very next scroll" The ICO fined TikTok ￡12.7 million ($15.9 million) for these breaches.
Investigations have found that predators are using TikTok to view, comment on, and message minor users, often requesting or sending sexually explicit content. TikTok has been described as a "perfect place for predators to meet, groom and engage children."
2. Moral Degradation
Another major concern of using TikTok is its impact on morality. People are losing their basic moral sense. Children are posting vulgar content, explicit ones, and even things that do not match their age.?
The hunger for popularity, views, and followers has been driving them crazy. They will do anything in their power to gain attention.?
People are now obsessed with this online fame. A year ago, we saw that a village girl in Bangladesh said that she would rather divorce her husband but would not quit uploading videos on TikTok. This is how much the craze is among the youth. A study in Indonesia also shares the same concern.
Another research in Indonesia shows that the use of TikTok and its addiction contributes to the increased number of marriage separations.?
Even there is propaganda such as Normalize happy divorces, not unhappy marriages.?
This is not something a healthy brain can entertain. Divorce and marriage separation are not something we can appreciate. This is against the morals. That does not mean that one has to stick to an unhealthy relationship.?
Divorce can happen. It is an unfortunate event for a couple. This should not be celebrated.?
3. A Hunger for Popularity
In comparison to YouTube, TikTok easily gains popularity. But it is still not that easy. One has to be dedicated and passionate. But the thing is, when you are trying to gain popularity on YouTube, you are learning something.?
You can hardly say the same for TikTok. Thousands and thousands of people are doing the same dance move on the same song. Most of them can be classified as cringe.?
The most concerning issue, however, is the shortcuts. Both male and female users have discovered what they have to do.?
For men, it is to say cringeworthy dialogues, adding effects, and gangster music. Girls, in contrast, spend their time dancing. Nudity and vulgarity are shortcuts for them. Entertaining the male gaze is their USP.?
You know what is the problem with this? Think about our society a few years back. How many housewives would you see dancing? But you can now see them dancing, lying, eating, and it is affecting the mentality of men.?
Here is a story that was shared on Reddit about how TikTok caused her marriage separation.?
Children, teenagers, youth, mothers, and even grannies are dancing! The ultimate aim is to get popular and rich in no time.?
What is more worrisome is that young children are often considered their idols. This shows the moral degradation our society has already gone through. The improvement needs to begin as soon as possible.?
4. TikTok is Making You Impatient
A 2015 Microsoft study found that human attention spans have shrunk to 8 seconds, on par with a goldfish. This aligns with concerns that the constant stream of short-form content on TikTok can further reduce attention spans.
TikTok's algorithm is designed to keep users engaged, making it "sticky" and challenging to disengage from. This can lead to excessive use, with teens intending to spend 15 minutes on the app but often spending two hours instead. This excessive use is associated with an increased risk of depression, particularly for heavy users.
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Imagine Sarah scrolling through TikTok. Short, fast-paced videos bombard her with information and entertainment. She swipes through cooking hacks, funny animal antics, and travel montages, all compressed into minutes. This constant stream of condensed content primes her for instant gratification.
Suddenly, Sarah needs to wait in line at the grocery store. The cashier seems slow, meticulously scanning items. Sarah taps her foot, checks her phone, and sighs. The TikTok-fueled impatience contrasts with the reality of a slower-paced situation.
At home, Sarah attempts a new recipe from TikTok. The video made it seem effortless, but in reality, it takes time and effort. She might get discouraged and abandon the recipe, missing the satisfaction of creating something from scratch.
5. The Rise of Sugar Daddies and Sugar Mommys
Well, these are not new, to be honest. These ill practices have been there for ages. But lately, you must have noticed an increased number of them.
TikTok's algorithm thrives on showing users content they'll engage with. If someone frequently watches videos depicting luxury lifestyles, expensive cars, and extravagant vacations, the app might serve them more of the same. This curated world can cultivate a desire to emulate such a lifestyle, especially among younger users.
Sugar dating sugar daddies or mommies is often presented as a glamorous solution on social media. Attractive people might share snippets of gifts or outings, hinting at the financial benefits of these relationships. TikTok, with its focus on short-form video, might not delve into the complexities or potential downsides of sugar dating.
Imagine Sarah, a college student, constantly bombarded by videos of influencers flaunting designer clothes and luxurious vacations. She might feel pressure to keep up with this perceived standard of living. Seeing snippets of sugar babies receiving expensive gifts on TikTok could plant a seed in her mind.
It makes sugar dating seem like an attractive shortcut to financial security. Divorce women are hunting for young boys. There are many examples of it.?
6. Wrong Role Models
TikTok's "For You" page is a treasure trove of entertainment and discovery. You get dance challenges, life hacks, and endless funny clips. But here's the thing: scroll long enough, and bam, you might stumble upon not-so-great role models.
The algorithm loves engagement, so over-the-top reactions and bragging can get a ton of likes. Suddenly, you're seeing people throwing tantrums to get their way or flaunting a materialistic lifestyle built on who-knows-what. It's entertaining, sure, but not exactly inspiring behavior.
Remember, most things on TikTok are polished. That influencer with the perfect life? They might have spent hours editing that video. The challenge where everyone seems effortlessly flawless? There could be countless failed attempts before that one perfect take. Comparing yourself to this unrealistic portrayal can be seriously discouraging.
7. Increasing Self Doubt
Research by the Center for Countering Digital Hate in 2020 found that 62% of teen girls reported feeling worse about their bodies after using social media, with TikTok specifically mentioned
Most TikTok videos showcase the "best of" moments. Perfectly choreographed dances, flawless makeup tutorials, and curated travel montages create an unrealistic standard. Someone scrolling through their feed might constantly compare their own life to these glimpses of perfection.
?Surrounded by constant comparisons and unrealistic portrayals, self-doubt about their own appearance or accomplishments can easily creep in. The "go viral" mentality can be pervasive on TikTok. This pressure to create engaging and trendy content can lead to feelings of inadequacy if someone's videos don't gain traction.
8. TikTok Audience Is Scary
Have you ever checked TikTok comment sections? People are making really bad comments, like REALLY bad. They even give threats, rape threats, and sexual abuse the content creators.?
This negativity can take many forms:
These toxic comments can hit creators hard. Like anyone, they face discouragement, self-doubt, and even anxiety from negativity. In severe cases, it can lead to creators abandoning the platform or, worse, facing depression.
Guys, there are even suicide cases!!
What Is The Solution?
We can talk about the negatives of social media platforms all day. But that is not going to solve anything at all. The question remains unanswered.?
What is the solution for Tiktok?
Nothing. When technology emerges, when technology progresses, you have to keep pace with it. You cannot ignore it. Using technology is not bad. Technology itself is not bad. It depends on how we use it and how you use it.?
Parents have to play a role here. If you are a parent, then spend time with them. Watch movies with them. Or maybe even watch social media channels with them. Don’t just let them have it on their own. This can lead to unimaginable concerns.?
The best solution is to look for healthy entertainment. It depends on what you consider healthy and what you consider toxic. This is the minimum sense of pride we as humans have to have.?
Final Thought
TikTok, Reels, and YT Shorts are all doing almost the same things. But concern regarding TikTok is severe. For adults, this might not be as dangerous as it is for young children. The sad part is that parents are willing to make videos of their children. Let’s hope we come out of this cheap fame attraction and focus on healthy entertainment.?
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3 个月Hi Farhan: I appreciate reading your post about how "people are making really bad comments, like REALLY bad ..." I have personal experience of seeing uncomfortable comments as a content creator. Would you like to write an article on the psychology of people making unfettered, irresponsible, vile, and demeaning comments? If they don't like certain things, can't they just stop watching and move on? James Chan, PhD, Philadelphia.