The covid pandemic has greatly influenced Tiktok’s rise to fame. In the beginning of 2020, TikTok had over 315 million downloads, which is the best quarter of any app, ever. It is no consequence that TikTok rose to fame during the pandemic. During times when people were depressed, bored, and anxious, TiktTok was an outlet for them. It provided them with entertainment and connections at a time when that was scarce. Freshman Emma Curran explains she “got it during covid because she wanted social media and it was the only app that her parents allowed”, she also explained that “during the pandemic I would always find myself scrolling on the app, because I was bored and it was something to do. Also as a fifth grader I would want to do those dances I saw all my friends doing.”   

 Psychologist Prerna Kohli said, “TikTok has emerged as a safe space where people can be authentic and real, without feeling the need to wear a social mask. So using TikTok may be a way to overcome any unconscious feelings of a lack of self-worth or identity in these uncertain times.” Essentially TikTok became the “app of the people” and has provided a space for people to escape and connect. 

The rise of TikTok is also attributed to how addictive it is and the endless act of scrolling. The platform provides an updated and custom stream of brief and engaging videos. The flow of short clips have a large emotional impact, providing viewers with an instant surge of dopamine, and the subconscious fear of missing out if you do not keep watching the latest viral video. The “For You” page tab ensures that you will find something you enjoy right away. Additionally the like, share, and comment buttons make you feel accepted and a part of a community. Tiktok gives your brain’s rewards center a boost, and makes you feel like you are a part of a social community. Morgan Begley says “It is a fun way to view and share videos.”

The rabbit hole of scrolling is something that is affecting teenagers’ brains everyday. A study done by Microsoft says that after 20 minutes on tiktok, users experience a “significant decrease” in their attention span and working memory. Affecting our ability to focus and remember. Recent decreases in attention spans are referred to as “Tiktok brain”. In the past four years it has become difficult for children to engage in activities that do not have instant and constant stimulation and gratification. Pediatricians have referred to TIkTok as a “dopamine machine” and we can only imagine the harms that will come with greatly diminished attention spans. In 2022 the optimal length of TikTok videos maximizing user engagement was between 21 and 34 seconds. Tiktok has released that most videos with the highest click through rate highlight  the key message or product within the first 3 seconds of the video. Otherwise, people will scroll.

So how does this influence life at Hackley? Many Hackley students claim that scrolling on tiktok is a large distraction from their school work. Student Nate Becker says “When I am doing homework and I get in the zone, sometimes I take a break. For me that breaks it typically brawl stars and tiktok. I always end up in this endless loop of tiktok. A five minute break turns into a thirty minute one”. Tiktok also acts as an advertisement for students at Hackley. Ella Ferrai says “once I bought the elf lip gloss on tiktok after seeing a 30 second video on how it was dupe for another product. “Auggie Teacher says “The app is bad. If it got banned it would be for my benefit.”

In recent weeks attention has been brought to the Tik Tok ban. Its personalized content and addictive nature makes the endless scrolling enjoyable and contribute to Tiktok’s widespread appeal. Although opinions on the app vary, most agree it has been demissioning students attention spans and has been proven to impact ability to focus. At Hackley, the influence of the app is evident as students find it both a source of distraction, discovering new products, and a way for them to connect with others. As the debate over the app’s impact continues, it remains clear that Tik tok has affected students’ minds and levis, influencing behavior, attention, and social interactions in many ways.