Negative effects caused by excessive and irresponsible use of TikTok

Anything that's used excessively and irresponsibly can and will cause harm. This includes mobile applications and social media platforms.

The base use of social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Tiktok is to connect with loved ones and friends but for most people, these platforms are also used as sources of news and entertainment.

Among these apps, Tiktok is the youngest and majority of its users are young as well. The app has around 700 million monthly active users. And like most social media services, Tiktok has its advantages and disadvantages.

Social media apps have been linked to depression and these apps have also been criticized for the spread of fake news.

Tiktok, on the other hand, has its fair share of criticisms like its use can be addictive or some "challenges" are too dangerous. Here are some of the negative effects caused by the excessive use of the platform.

Source: cottonbro (Instagram)

1. People treat fame as validation

Due to influencers who get instant fame for simply posting random videos, people assume that popularity is their passport to being accepted by society. This leads to people creating videos, no matter how dangerous they are, for the sake of being unique and getting all the attention users think they need.

2. Privacy is compromised

Since many of these videos are taken in houses, for instance, it's more likely that your private space has been publicly exposed to your followers. Being too open about every corner of your house can trigger crooks to plot undesirable plans, which can compromise the safety of you and your family members. This also makes you vulnerable to frauds and scams.

3. It becomes addictive

Spending hours on the app browsing videos can lead to addiction. And while this is entertaining at first, it can prompt serious trouble in the future, especially for kids. They will be more invested in browsing videos rather than doing their homework or household chores.

4. Prone to accident

There are a lot of videos where the creator challenges himself/herself to do risky tasks for the audience's entertainment. However, this can be dangerous for young users because without proper viewer discretion and guidance, these challenges can lead to accidents and injuries.

This list serves as a warning for users and parents. This is to remind every user that you have to be responsible when using the app.

TikTok is actually a fun app full of comedy sketches, interesting stories, dance covers, and many more, all of which are pretty amusing. It is also a great avenue for making new friends and forming new connections.

Furthermore, its users have proven that TikTok is a good creative outlet that also offers earning potential.

It's inevitable to be engaged in social media since it's where a lot of people connect nowadays. It's also fine if we use it for entertainment and awareness, but it's important that we become more mindful of the things we share, not only on Tiktok but on various online platforms as well.