Signs of TikTok Addiction

TikTok addiction is the compulsive and harmful use of the TikTok video streaming platform. An addiction to TikTok can take many forms. It can involve endlessly scrolling through the For You Page, seeking external validation in the form of comments or likes, a heightened fear of missing out (FOMO), low self-esteem from comparing ourselves to others, and withdrawing from our lives to spend more and more time on our phones. More than algorithms on other social media platforms, the TikTok algorithm uses random reinforcement rewards and endless short-form video content to keep social media users hooked like on a slot machine, which is what makes TikTok so addictive. As a subset of internet and technology Addiction, over time TikTok addiction can lead to changes in the brain that compromise our ability to focus, prioritize, regulate our mood, and relate to others. This can lead to other negative consequences including mental health issues like depression, social anxiety, or strained relationships with loved ones.

Those of us who have come to identify as TikTok addicts experienced several common symptoms. We watched an excessive amount of TikTok videos and turned to the platform as a coping mechanism if we felt lonely or unhappy. Ultimately though, our use of TikTok made us feel worse, not better, and it damaged our attention span. Even when we were aware of the consequences and wanted to stop, we were unable to do so. Over time, many of us struggled to enjoy real life in the offline world. Overuse of TikTok often altered our mood, and we used it to try to escape our problems. When we weren’t on TikTok, we experienced anxiety and irritability. When we were using TikTok, we neglected our studies, our work and our basic bodily needs. Our addictive behaviors jeopardized our relationships, educational pursuits, and career opportunities.  We felt shame and demoralization about our TikTok use. 

When we first noticed these troubling experiences, we began to acknowledge that something wasn’t right. But many of us still questioned whether we really had an addiction. For those of us still wondering, the following questions may help us better identify whether there are signs of TikTok addiction in our own experience.

TikTok Addiction Questionnaire:

1. Do I ever go on TikTok to briefly watch something and then discover that hours have passed?
2. Do I ever swear off or set limits around TikTok, and then break my commitments?
3. Do I have TikTok binges that last all day or late into the night?
4. Do I turn to TikTok whenever I have a free moment?
5. Does my use of TikTok lead me to neglect my personal hygiene, nutritional needs, or physical health?
6. Do I feel isolated, emotionally absent, distracted, or anxious when I’m not on TikTok?
7. Does my TikTok usage contribute to conflict or avoidance in personal relationships?
8. Has my use of TikTok jeopardized my studies, finances, or career?
9. Do I hide or lie about the amount of time I spend on TikTok or the kinds of digital content I consume? 
10. Do I feel guilt or shame around my use of TikTok?

Nobody should have to suffer due to their TikTok use. If you’ve answered yes to several of the above questions, we encourage you to consider getting support.

What are the effects of TikTok Addiction?

TikTok addiction is a subset of internet addiction disorder (IAD), which was first investigated by the psychologist Dr. Kimberly S. Young, who published the original diagnostic criteria for this mental health disorder in 1998. Today there is still an open discussion in the scientific community regarding how to define, qualify, and study the various forms of internet addiction disorder, and the American Psychiatric Association’s
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) has begun to acknowledge the severity of this class of addictions through its inclusion of internet gaming disorder. There is widespread consensus from both researchers and clinicians that the problematic and compulsive overuse of the internet, TikTok, and smart devices has been rising over the past two decades, and that the prevalence of this behavioral addiction is associated with a variety of mental, emotional, physical, interpersonal, and professional problems.

Perhaps most significantly, the dopamine releases triggered by internet and technology addiction have been shown to cause structural changes in the brain very similar to the changes experienced in people with alcohol or drug addictions. A variety of studies have shown that access to television and video games decreases the amount of pain medication needed by hospital patients, indicating a pain-reducing effect similar to opiate substances such as morphine, heroin, or codeine.

Of course, the effects of internet and technology addiction are not only reflected in the structure of our brains, but in our daily lives as well. Internet and technology addiction is strongly associated with impulse control disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, increased substance abuse, and depression. Perhaps most tragically of all, individuals with internet and technology addiction have much higher rates of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts—roughly three times the average. The negative impact of these effects can be exacerbated by unethical or problematic TikTok use, such as cyberbullying or stalking.

These findings are cause for serious concern. While some might minimize the impact of internet and technology addiction in comparison to chemical substances, the truth is that internet and technology addiction changes our brains in a manner similar to the effects produced by an addiction to alcohol, heroin, or other drugs. 

Who is at risk for TikTok Addiction?

TikTok addiction is a condition that can affect people in all age groups, from children and young people to those later in life. Our meetings include adolescents, college students, working professionals, parents, and retirees. While the risk factors are varied, internet addiction does not discriminate based on age, educational level, socio-economic status, geography, race, or ethnicity. Its negative effects impact not only the addict themselves, but also their family members and friends. By damaging our potential, self-esteem, and quality of life, excessive use of TikTok can impair our lives. Additionally, by contributing to depression and suicidal tendencies, our addiction can be life-threatening. Regardless of our background, if our use of TikTok is causing us to experience distress or difficulties, there are actions we can take to improve our situation and find relief.

A Solution for TikTok Addiction

While internet and technology addiction has only begun to receive attention in recent years, the disease of addiction is not new. Millions of people have found sustainable, long-term freedom from their addictive behaviors through mutual aid support groups modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous. A recent systematic review conducted by Stanford public health researchers determined that participation in Alcoholics Anonymous was nearly always found to be more effective than other therapies in achieving continuous abstinence from alcoholism. The AA model has been successfully adapted to help people suffering from a variety of addictions, including narcotics, marijuana, nicotine, sex, pornography, and food, among others.

In continuation of this tradition, Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous applies the proven model of AA to help those who are suffering from an addiction to TikTok find long-term freedom from their self-destructive behaviors. We share our experience, strength, and hope with each other through group meetings and one-on-one relationships, and we work a recovery program based on the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Our meetings are free and anonymous, and we welcome anyone who thinks they may benefit from support to visit one of our meetings.

Members Share Their Experiences Finding Recovery in ITAA

ITAA has helped me recover from scrolling on TikTok all day by providing a framework of support and recovery through the 12 steps and traditions. It’s a supportive community whose purpose is to help people find freedom from social media addiction.

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I used to use TikTok to avoid activities that I deem unpleasant, which was basically any difficult emotion I had or any task I didn’t want to do. ITAA provides tools of recovery for me to employ to handle procrastination and avoidance.

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I used to binge TikTok for countless hours and almost lost my job because of it. ITAA has helped me to make better choices, one of which is to abstain from videos.

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Our program has helped countless people find long-term freedom from internet and technology addiction. For more personal stories, we encourage you to read and listen to the recovery stories on our website.

How to Recover From TikTok Addiction

While there is no permanent or quick cure for an addiction to TikTok, there are concrete actions we can take to recover from our compulsive behaviors and restore our emotional and mental wellbeing. We have found the following actions to be of significant help in finding long-term, sustainable freedom from our compulsive and problematic TikTok and social media use.

1. Attend daily meetings. In addition to a growing number of face-to-face meetings around the world, ITAA has daily online meetings where our global fellowship meets to share experience, strength and hope with each other. We are encouraged to try attending six meetings in a short time frame to help decide whether ITAA may be helpful to us.
2. Make daily outreach calls. Our TikTok dependence drew us into isolation and self-reliance. As we begin to recover, we learn that we can trust others and be vulnerable. Calling other members outside of meetings helps us stay connected, supported, and sober, and it gives us an opportunity to share in greater detail than we might during a meeting.
3. Abstain. With the help of other members in recovery, we identify and abstain from the specific addictive behaviors which are causing the greatest difficulties in our lives. We recognize that this is a process that unfolds over time, and we make use of the support available to us in ITAA to remain sober one day at a time from social platforms that are problematic for us.
4. Learn more about the recovery process. Our website has many resources about the nature of our addiction and how we might best chart our recovery journey, navigate withdrawal symptoms, and respond to cravings. In addition, there’s a rich body of literature from other 12 Step programs that we can lean on to better inform our healing process and to learn more about the time-tested methods which have helped millions of other addicts recover.
5. Find a sponsor and work the steps. We have benefitted from asking somebody we resonate with to sponsor us and working the Twelve Steps together with them, which is the vital and transformative basis of our long-term recovery from our addiction. A great way to connect with potential sponsors is to make outreach calls with other members who are sober and working the Steps.
6. Make use of outside help. Many members supplement their recovery with a variety of resources beyond ITAA, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, psychiatry or other mental health wellness resources. Some members have found it helpful to engage in a ‘digital detox’ for a period of time to help kickstart their recovery. While we do not endorse any one treatment option or intervention in particular, we encourage all members to avail themselves of any outside help that can support them in their recovery journey. A healthcare or mental health professional may be able to give advice tailored to your situation. This can include cross-addiction treatments, such as for other substance use and eating disorders.
   
   

What Does Sobriety From TikTok Addiction Look Like?

Sobriety in ITAA is a process of discovery that looks different for each of us. As part of this process, we identify and abstain from the specific behaviors which trigger our addiction. We have also found it beneficial to establish a positive vision for our internet use. For example, we may practice using technology purposefully, minimally, or only as necessary. Some of us have decided to abstain from TikTok altogether, along with other platforms that enabled our addiction (e.g. Facebook, Snapchat or other form of social media addiction, etc.), limited our screen time and the social media apps we use, and decided to not use our phones when engaging in real world conversations with friends and family.

We respect each member’s dignity to discover their own path to recovery, and we work with other experienced members to help define what sobriety means for each of us as individuals. As part of this process, we lean on meetings and phone calls to help maintain our sobriety commitments. Rather than using for distraction or to numb our emotions, we seek to use technology as a tool for meeting our goals, living in alignment with our values, and developing flourishing lives.

Types of Internet Addiction

While we all suffer from a common disease, it expresses itself in different ways for each of us. The following are some common compulsive internet and technology behaviors. It’s important to keep in mind that this list is neither comprehensive nor prescriptive—it is essential to identify our own personal compulsive or unnecessary internet and technology behaviors with the help of other members.

• Social media addiction is the addictive use of social media platforms, messaging apps, newsfeeds, discussion forums, chat rooms, and online communities. Addictive social media use can include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Discord, Reddit, Pinterest, and others.
• התמכרות לסטרימינג is the compulsive and addictive use of any streaming platforms or content. This includes online videos, movies, television, podcasts, and platforms such as YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime or Twitch.
• Phone addiction is the compulsive and self-destructive use of smartphone devices and apps. This may involve excessive mobile phone use or compulsive notification checking, especially at inappropriate times such as late at night or while studying, working, or driving.
• Video game addiction refers to obsessive, unhealthy, or excessive use of video games, as well as any other digital or online games. This includes computer games, console games and phone games. 
• Porn addiction is the addictive consumption of digital erotic content and can also entail other unhealthy digital sexual behaviors. This can include pornographic videos, images, or writing, sexually arousing imagery, anonymous chat rooms, and dating apps.
• Information Addiction is an addictive and unhealthy relationship to researching and consuming information. This can include an addiction to the news, social media platforms, online shopping, online encyclopedias, and compulsive online research such as product or health research.
  
  

About ITAA

Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous is a Twelve-Step fellowship based on the principles pioneered by Alcoholics Anonymous. Our organization is entirely volunteer-based and self-supporting. The only requirement to participate in ITAA is a desire to stop using internet and technology compulsively.

We have no opinions on outside issues, and we neither condemn nor condone any particular technology. We are not affiliated with any political agenda, religious movement, or outside interests. Our single purpose is to abstain from compulsive internet and technology use and to help others find freedom from this addiction. ITAA is a US 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt nonprofit incorporated in the state of Colorado. 

Page last updated on ספטמבר 3, 2023