How Watching TikToks Changes Your Brain: 2 Memory and Thinking Symptoms You Can’t Ignore

What’s the main issue?

This article explores the significant neurological and psychological consequences of excessive consumption of short-form videos like TikToks and Instagram Reels. It addresses how this common habit, often described as an addiction, negatively alters our brain’s functions, particularly affecting memory and thought processes.

What are the key findings?

Based on scientific research, including a study in the journal “NeuroImage,” the article highlights two major negative effects:

• Brain Fog and Slowed Thinking: Constant scrolling slows down the brain’s ability to process information. This leads to symptoms of brain fog, such as difficulty concentrating, analyzing problems, and making decisions. Research showed that the brains of people addicted to short videos were slower to gather evidence before making a choice, linked to reduced activity in the precuneus, a brain region vital for attention and reflection.
• Impulsive and Harmful Decision-Making: Excessive video consumption weakens the brain’s natural “loss aversion,” a mechanism that protects us from taking unnecessary risks. Addicted individuals have a harder time recognizing potential dangers and negative consequences, as the desire for immediate gratification and quick rewards overrides rational thought. This makes them more prone to making poor, self-detrimental choices.

What’s the takeaway?

The article concludes that this “brain rot” is a serious issue, fueled by tech algorithms designed to be addictive. To counteract these effects, it recommends two key strategies:

1. Set firm limits: Actively block or restrict access to the most addictive applications to break the dopamine cycle.
2. Embrace boredom: Instead of filling every idle moment with your phone, allow your brain to rest, wander, and be bored. This period of non-stimulation is crucial for neural regeneration, creativity, and improving problem-solving skills.

Mentoring Question for You:

Reflecting on your own daily habits, how much time do you spend scrolling short-form videos, and have you noticed any changes in your ability to concentrate or make deliberate decisions? What is one small, practical step you could take this week to give your brain a break from constant stimulation?

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