By: Kassandra Lippincott
TikTok’s Endless Pool of Stimulating Content: An Examination
It’s time to delve into whether social media platforms have truly impacted our attention spans. As I have discussed in my previous posts, there is no clear answer to this question. With constant and instant access to information through various media formats and online channels, how has it affected our attention spans?
One source of this issue is TikTok, which has an endless pool of information that can be easily accessed. @social_mino, a TikTok creator, discusses how he takes advantage of an individual’s lack of attention to keep them engaged in his content.
It’s a strategic ploy to purposefully create content that is so stimulating that the viewer continues to remain engaged. A new term ‘hyper-editing’ is now being spread across the internet with the end goal of creators making their content more engaging. I personally have fallen victim to this technique but there’s more to engaging viewers than just that.
A study published in October, 2022 revealed a substantial increase in ADHD and ADD diagnoses. The symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) include difficulty paying attention, avoidance of long mental tasks, disorganization, forgetfulness, not listening when spoken to directly, losing things, making careless mistakes, and struggling to follow through with instructions.
The cause of this increase in ADHD and ADD diagnoses could be due to several factors such as the rise in mental health awareness and conversations in recent years, the increased accessibility of psychiatric care, or possibly the influence of technology.
However, it is unclear whether this statistic is directly linked to the impact of various social media platforms on attention spans. There are multiple variables at play that need to be considered when conducting research in this area, including the possibility that these findings could influence content creators’ tactics for engaging those with ADHD and/or ADD, potentially affecting even those without attention disorders.
It’s not all bad news…
When scrolling on TikTok you can find creators such as @social_mino benefiting from the attention span crisis or you have creators like @josephsjourneyyt who want to change the media output from creators and give viewers a different perspective.
While I cannot draw a definite answer to my research question, I have found that social media, especially TikTok, is an issue. Time seems to slip away when scrolling on the app, making it difficult to manage other aspects of life and wellbeing. Overconsumption of anything is never good, and this applies to social media as well.
It seems that individuals can become lost in the various virtual worlds and online communities that we are a part of, and over time, I am convinced that it will have a greater impact on our minds than it currently does. As with any technology, there are both positive and negative aspects, and based on my research, this is one of the more negative effects.
As I conclude my research, I want to stress the importance of not believing everything you see or hear online. Do your own research to draw your own conclusions about the information you come across. Fuel your mind with healthy habits, like spending time outdoors or reading a book, and take a break from endless scrolling. Although the impact of social media on our attention spans may not be clear yet, it is essential to prioritize our mental health and well-being.
The Velvet Type 
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