TikTok is a fairly new short video app that has recently dominated the social media industry. The app rose from the ashes of dead platforms like Dubsmash, Musical.ly, and Vine, forming a Frankenstein’s-monster-esque mishmash of features. The seemingly endless possibilities, ranging from dances to memes to storytimes, attract children and teenagers. But is TikTok really the best place for young people to spend their time? TikTok, like many other social media platforms, is unhealthy for its users.

   TikTok is extremely addictive; after all, their algorithm makes sure of it. According to the New York Times, “It is constantly learning from you and, over time, builds a presumably complex but opaque model of what you tend to watch, and shows you more of that, or things like that, or things related to that” (nytimes.com). Because of this algorithm, people find themselves scrolling and scrolling, saying “just one more” each time, with no true end in sight. Though the algorithm provides for constant entertainment, it also contributes greatly to the addiction many people have to their phones. People, especially teens, don’t need another reason to sit on their phones for hours on end.

   Similarly, TikTok is a distraction. “I don’t like how it distracts me from doing my schoolwork,” said Junior Alyssa Dudley. Getting distracted in this fashion can be harmful to grades, which should be one of the main focuses of a student.

   TikTok isn’t just harmful to the idle viewer, however. People will go to great lengths to become “TikTok famous.” According to NBC News, “Some children aren’t just interested in making videos with their friends on TikTok — they want to get a lot of likes and followers. And that can lead to bad decisions” (nbcnews.com). The need to receive validation from strangers online is toxic to the mental health of teenagers in general, making them think they don’t mean anything without followers. However, as TikTok users value humor, many people go as far as to put themselves in dangerous positions or participate in illegal actions for supposed TikTok fame. TikTok, unfortunately, is a place where poor and unhealthy behavior is promoted.

   Even worse, TikTok is a breeding ground for cyberbullying and cringe culture. According to Urban Dictionary, cringe culture is defined as “…[t]he culture started on the Internet of making fun of people and/or insulting them by calling them ‘cringy’ or ‘cringe’ for doing something which doesn’t harm or somehow insult anyone nor anything” (urbandictionary.com). As is clear from this definition, cringe culture is a form of bullying, and it carries onto TikTok, primarily with the duet feature.

   According to NBC News, the duet feature on TikTok allows an individual to collaborate with someone else’s video by recording their own video that will show up side by side with the original one, using the same audio. “What some people do is they take a video they deem ‘cringeworthy’ and they make fun of it in a duet or reaction” (nbcnews.com). Harmless groups on TikTok who are simply trying to share things that they enjoy, many of them young teens, are subject to ridicule from people on the internet who derive joy from cyberbullying, deeming them “cringy” for the whole internet to see. Though the duet mechanic can be a fun way for people to collaborate, it is also a chance for cyberbullies to converge on a poor kid who’s just trying to have fun.

   TikTok may be popular with teens, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good for them. From addiction to cyberbullying, the platform is far from perfect, and a less-than-ideal place for the young audience it caters to. People should step back from TikTok and reconsider their memberships.