The Dark Side of TikTok

Games Without Frontiers

The above video is a sketch from Saturday Night Live spoofing TikTok. The sad part is that this parody closely mimics what a TikTok experience can be. I’m a Generation Xer, so I’m an old school Social Media guy, i.e., Facebook and YouTube. At least these platforms don’t mow you down like a machine gun with content. As I watched this sketch unfold on SNL, I felt like I was under attack. It’s a visual assault, plain and simple. What can this be doing to the minds of Millennials and Generation Z? I started this blog as a way to share the reality of living with invisible diseases. I would certainly say that “mental health” is an invisible disease. This particular story is meant to make us think about the effects that TikTok and social media have on our minds.

As someone who’s spent 35 years in the world of graphic design, I’ve seen technology evolve in ways that are both incredible and terrifying. I’ve worked behind a computer for tens of thousands of hours, adapting to virtually every new design tool and software update. But even with all my experience, I find myself increasingly unable to keep up with the frantic pace of platforms like TikTok (I have not been able to learn how the AI tools work in Photoshop, for instance.), which represent a broader shift in how we interact with technology—and not necessarily for the better. While social media, in general, has reshaped the way we communicate, TikTok, in particular, seems to reflect and amplify some of society's worst tendencies, and I can’t help but wonder if we’re paying too high a price for the viral rush it provides.

Before publishing this chapter, I took some time to peruse TikTok to get a real sense of what the platform has to offer. I’ll admit, there is some good content. There are some funny cat videos that, for some reason, never get boring. But seeing a stranger showing off a new dress for 10 seconds, with no context or message except “look at me,” really rubs me the wrong way. Most of it is really just digital trash.

The biggest concern with TikTok, and perhaps the most obvious, is its impact on attention spans. This app is built around short, fast-paced videos that are designed to hook viewers instantly, feeding them an endless stream of content. As someone who’s been in design for decades, I understand the value of quick communication. But TikTok pushes this to an extreme, encouraging a shallow, fleeting engagement culture. There’s no time for reflection, no space for deep thought. It’s all about the next quick hit of dopamine, the next viral trend. Compared to other platforms like Facebook or Instagram (call me old, but I still prefer Facebook), TikTok feels more like a fast-food version of social media—quick, easy, and addictive, but leaving us mentally malnourished in the long run.

The influence TikTok has on its users, particularly younger generations, is also deeply troubling. The platform is driven by influencers who shape opinions, trends, and even behaviour. While influencers exist on every platform, TikTok’s algorithm is laser-focused on viral content, often rewarding sensationalism over substance. I worry about the messages being sent—how easy it is to feel pressured into conforming to the latest fad or performing for an invisible audience. On Facebook or Instagram, there’s at least some semblance of personal curation and connection with friends. On TikTok, it feels like everyone is chasing a collective high, often without thinking about the consequences of what they’re sharing or consuming.

The potential for harmful content is another serious issue. TikTok’s algorithm can push viewers into echo chambers of dangerous trends or misinformation. It’s not just silly dances or viral challenges—there are dark corners of the platform where destructive behaviors are normalized or glorified. And while TikTok has made efforts to moderate harmful content, its fast-paced, user-driven nature makes it nearly impossible to control. As someone who’s seen how quickly misinformation can spread online, I can’t help but feel that TikTok accelerates this problem in ways we haven’t fully grasped yet. When compared to Facebook and Instagram, where harmful content can still spread but is somewhat easier to monitor, TikTok’s sheer speed makes it much harder to police.

Then, there’s the privacy issue, which is one of the main reasons the United States has considered banning TikTok. Unlike other platforms, TikTok is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance, and this raises concerns about how the app handles user data. U.S. officials have expressed fears that TikTok could share personal data with the Chinese government, which could lead to national security risks. These concerns are legitimate, especially when you consider how much personal information is shared on the app—everything from user habits to location data. While Facebook and Instagram have had their own data privacy scandals, the geopolitical dimension of TikTok’s ownership adds an extra layer of complexity. Are we comfortable with a foreign government potentially having access to the personal data of millions of American citizens? It’s a question we should all be asking.

At the end of the day, my discomfort with TikTok goes beyond just feeling like I’m being left behind by technology. I’ve spent a career using the internet and technology to create, to build, to communicate ideas. But platforms like TikTok seem to focus more on quick consumption, triviality, and distraction. As AI takes over more daily tasks, we’re speeding up, not slowing down, and the cost of this might be more than just job displacement—it could be the erosion of meaningful connection, thoughtfulness, and even creativity.

Let’s look at the state of the world today, with out-of-control polarized U.S. politics, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, natural disasters, and the way we are constantly bombarded with news of all these events. How we access and consume information now is fragmented across so many streams; how can anyone know what is real and what isn’t—especially with AI fake images and videos? TikTok is where the younger generation gets most of its news—in short, just seconds-long sound bites. Imagine. For all its popularity, TikTok reflects a growing trend in technology that makes me uneasy, and I can’t help but wonder if we’re heading in the wrong direction.

I'll leave you with "Games Without Frontiers" by Peter Gabriel. Although the song speaks to the US boycott of the 1980 olympics in Moscow, I found the title to be quite à propos—TikTok feels like a "game without frontiers," or borders.

Patrick, a.k.a. Your Friendly Neighbourhood Bionicman

PS: Feel free to leave a comment below or reply to the email you received. I’m curious to hear what people think about TikTok.