tiktok is worse than you think, here’s why 💭 DEEP DIVE (EP. 1): TIKTOK

[@wearlucinda]

It really does seem like the negative psychological effects on users are intentional. From getting eating disorder content within minutes of making an account, to kids developing tics, to extreme levels of depression....not to mention just how addictive the app is in general!

[@Jaylade]

but why is it so much more addictve than everything else

[@rileynavarra7652]

@@Jaylade as far as i know, the app is better at recommending content for you the more you use it and it has an endless scrolling feature so you never get notified when ur caught up on what you missed out on (like when you were sleeping or whatever). it doesn't seem to focus on who you do/don't follow but i think you can follow tags (which would show more content than following a single person). i'd assume videos are more engaging than photos / text (aka instagram, tumblr, & twitter format) since you're actively cutting off a person talking when you scroll away from a video on tiktok

[@thesevenkingswelove9554]

@@rileynavarra7652 i dont want to be rude but isnt this same as yt shorts and insta reels heck even snapchat has shorts now, theres not much difference

[@MarieKyriney]

@@thesevenkingswelove9554 then you havent spent much time on tiktok. their algorhythm is nothing compared to youtube. shorts and reels are also just recycled tiktoks, no one makes shorts and reels for just that platform. tiktok is first in their mind. but in the end i prefer yt shorts, because they bore me much faster.

[@violett874]

​@@MarieKyriney Then I'm really glad I don't have tiktok because I also like youtube shorts because of that!

[@johnathanbanner3841]

Man I did not expect a video this based from this channel, but I super respect being willing to talk about these things. I have a lot of friends who use tik tok and I mention some things about privacy, China, etc. and they literally don’t care, so it’s great to see someone push back against this stuff and bring awareness. Great video! Edit: just deleted instagram. Ik it’s not really the same but definitely still a time wasting app with an algorithm feeding very mindless content. Good luck to others doing the same.

[@wintersprite]

I deleted Instagram at the beginning of the year due to my anxiety and depression as well as some drama going on there.

[@alexguterbock3542]

Dude this stuff is very real and very scary. Proud of you for having the courage to speak up about it! I hope more people will start to get away from tiktok and wake up the scary realities of algorithms in general…

[@buffalorye]

In 2020, I promised myself I'd never download TikTok. Now I love watching these kinds of videos that reinforce my decision. The real world is so much better than social media.

[@itsbeeva]

A 2-3 week detox is enough to make it blatantly obvious how much better life is when you stay present in the real world. The first few days you may mistake peace for boredom, but then you realize how much more productive (work or *healthy* rest) you are if you unplug! I’m never going back!

[@coppersense999]

Agree, 100%. Just curious tho, does YT not count? Honestly, is it a separate category?

[@jadahehe4214]

just did some googling and wanted y’all to be aware that Rowena was an author for the Epoch Times, which is right-wing and pro-Trump. she just wrote innocuous articles about food in 2015 but just to give you an idea of her perspective :-/ in Asia, Falun Gong is well known to the equivalent of what Scientology is to the US. none of us support any humans rights infringements of course, just wanted to say it’s a complicated issue

[@carolinejohannsen8002]

Same. For me it was just an intuitive decision. Going off SoMe completely seemed a bit excessive, but avoiding the one coming out of China, was attainable. So I did.

[@mondstauberdbeere]

@@jadahehe4214 Thanks for letting us know! I just looked it up myself and am honestly quite shocked at her affiliation with that newspaper...didn't expect that at all!

[@Hannah-ny5uq]

I told myself that I would never download TikTok and during the pandemic, I caved. Now three years later, I spend hours a day on it, completely addicted. This video is exactly what I needed to see. Deleting immediately! Thank you for this video, it was so informative and well-researched. I have so much for respect for you for speaking up about this! ❤

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Remove it asap, with care for your own mental health and not wasting personal time, we have so little of on this planet.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

How is short video format addicive? I never understood that. I don't like short videos, they lack depth and don't unfold any topic. Boring 💩

[@TuMadre6995]

it gets so much easier with time! i used to scroll on it for hours every day and then quit cold turkey a year ago. then youtube shorts became a slight problem for me lol but i finally cut those out too. it's worth it!!

[@Bren-I-oop]

Forest app helped me.

[@itsbeeva]

Thank you for deciding to take the time to make this video! I’ve already been boycotting TikTok (and decreasing my social media use in general, because these apps are designed to hijack our nervous systems, therefore life without it is more peaceful), but the extent of this is scary indeed.

[@AmalAl-Askari]

What do you mean by hijacking our nervous system?

[@wintersprite]

I’ve gotten off of several social media sites over the past few years and only tried TikTok for less than a day. Lately when I watch KZbin, I also might do something else such as knitting/crocheting or coloring. It works for videos where I don’t have to constantly be focused on the screen.

[@mattdowie92]

Right on, Rowena. I really respect you for putting this out there. I have never had tik tok, and I never will.

[@TheArunimaa]

So true, I never downloaded tik tok, and am never going to!

[@tommi_sharp]

I have so much respect for you sticking to your principles and not making tiktok content. I don’t use tiktok and I don’t plan on it.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Same ❤

[@anonymoose1233]

The struggle that I have with social media is that while I want to protect my mind, I also want to be a part of global and everyday life. So much of conversation and interactions nowadays depend on your being caught up with what is going on online. Certain jokes and phrases as well as communities all start online. I wish I could have both, but if I have to pick, I feel compelled to stick with the majority and stay online. It is sad but it feels unavoidable if I want to maintain my real life interactions as well as my online friendships.

[@ineedcashtm8338]

I felt the exact same way 3 months ago when I was wondering if I should or shouldn't uninstall tik tok. I then realised that all the time I lost on the app was way to much compared to the interactions I had that came from the content I consumed. For the first week it's true that the fomo hits hard but after that it just becomes a detail. Btw I'm 16 and very much live in a social environment where everyone has the app! Don't feel pressured to uninstall it or to keep it just mesure the pros and the cons of consuming it :>

[@1tecito]

I felt the same way but as someone who deleted tiktok 6 months ago i can ASSURE you thats part of the brainwashing because that fomo you think you might experience is totally manageable and youre not actually missing out on anything. My life is better now that I dont consume content on tiktok

[@emilyrees9168]

I thought that a few years ago but i realised it was smashing my mental health and it’s only very rarely that I feel like I’ve ‘lost’ social media, I keep my accounts for emergencies but until I know I can go on them without feeling like a defective human being then I’m keeping well away. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing though, as long as you’re happy with your usage 😊

[@wintersprite]

@@emilyrees9168I have mild to moderate anxiety and depression and had to get off of FB around five years ago. I more recently got off of IG and haven’t used Twitter in years. I do keep Messenger to be able to chat with family and friends, and I recently joined Discord. I also use YT and Pinterest.

[@coppersense999]

I wonder if you would be open to restricting social media catch up to a predetermined block of time, say once a week? It would force us to use the time wisely and cut all fluff, and only consume truly relevant content hopefully. The longer we wait, the more real news rises to the top and has time to benefit from nuanced analysis by experts.

[@clau_sing_]

I'm ashamed to admit I initially said I wouldn't download tik tok and ended up doing it in hopes it would give me more exposure and stuff... now it has become another source of disappointment and time wasting. I need to delete it..

[@MagisterialVoyager]

We live and we learn! ❤

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Remove it asap, with care for your own mental health and not wasting personal time, we have so little of on this planet.

[@alliasn3384]

I’ve avoided TikTok from day 1 and now I’m weaning myself off of Instagram, what sucks I think many of us know these apps are harmful but so many people are addicted because our psychology is being actively used against us 😪

[@cappuccinogrande]

Well said

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Remove it asap, with care for your own mental health and not wasting personal time, we have so little of on this planet. It's in our hands to resist!

[@mikesamovarov4054]

How is short video format addicive? I never understood that. I don't like short videos, they lack depth and don't unfold any topic. Boring 💩

[@verniellove891]

i do think the problem is controlling time on the app. and the app tries its HARDEST to keep you on there as long as possible. that needs regulation asap. especially with younger more impressionable people. specifically teenagers. there is so much radicalizing stuff on the internet and with TT its so so easy to fall into a closed space and feel like whatever is said is the truth because every person on your feed is there because they're part of your specific echo chamber. very very scary.

[@yeoldegrayCat]

Thankfully I got bored of Instagram pretty quick. I only use it to post artwork, in the off chance it might get someone interested in what I make.

[@xx-yc2fx]

All of this is true, AND it's happening in the US too. Algorithms control the internet space, whether it's Tiktok, Instagram, KZbin, or Google. The US government also doesn't keep our best interests at the forefront - they only serve giant corporations and the rich. Sure, we're "free" here, but the entities with the primary benefit of "freedom" are those at the very top. The talk around banning Tiktok in the US hasn't even been pushed by what you're mentioning in the video - it's to protect US tech companies and give them total control of the algorithms that control us. There needs to be action for ALL of these apps and companies, but it won't happen until the people representing the majority of us actually prioritize OUR needs.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Algorithmes aren't controlling us, we are CHOOSING the wrong thing. But nobody actually forces us to get those stuрid apps.

[@MargieLeigh3]

this!! there's a weird idea that china specifically is what makes tiktok 'bad' but it's all of these apps. they all buy and sell our data. loved rowena's video of course and not every point/perspective can be talked about in one video

[@joy7367]

agreed. whilst what was said in the video is worrying, i don't think giving that much power to a government is bad because it is china or communist, it's just dangerous to begin with for one entity to have such power and so tiktok isn't the only thing we need to worry about. it's like when rowena said the reason china wants to beat the us is because they hate freedom, i think that's a very us centric take. the reason is simply because the us is the first world power right now. they're not bad because they're (barely) communist, they're bad because they have a concerning amount of arbitrary power over populations without concern for people's wellbeing first (which tbh can be said in lots of way about lots of us corporations and prolly government too)

[@stephaniefigueroa6796]

This video solidified everything I feel about Tik Tok and how much it is shaping this next generation. It’s so scary.

[@Snips.tano89]

As if I couldn’t like you more Row, this video solidified my respect and love for you as a person. It takes a lot of guts to stand up to a platform like that, and to hold your opinion and views without hesitation. Thank you as always for speaking your mind and helping us better ourselves

[@summer_time_5]

Yes! I just hit a month without tik tok and Instagram for a little break and im feeling great.

[@rowena]

proud. of. you!! 😤💪🌱✨

[@june-again]

incredible video! definitely got me thinking. i'm not sure it's even about a dopamine detox anymore, we might need to learn how to info detox. it isn't that we shouldn't have access to information, but maybe that we should be more intentional with what information we "go after" and "consume." well put together vid as always, super excited about seeing this kind of content from you 💚

[@Cam-xp2ep]

mm, I totally get the Chinese government critic. but as a latinoamerican, I don't see how it's really different from what usa has been doing all this time, besides the superficial discourse of freedom and democracy, I urge you to inform yourself about the things your country has been doing. I think you may be presenting this sort of dicotomy between the good and bad guys and I really don't see how could we believe USA is the good guys when facebooks has been used to political cohertion as well, and using entertainment to get inside all the other cultures. Just to point an example, I'm here talking English watching a video from an American youtuber in an American platform, when I'm from another country and talk spanish. So I get that what China is trying to do is wrong, but it seems that is specially a problem bc its trying to get it's hands in the game USA was previously dominating

[@IsabelleRibeiroS]

as a latina myself, I totally agree.

[@mica_32]

100% agree. I’m also latin American and I’ve noticed that most people from the USA are veeeery quick to call out other governments’ wrongdoings but never their own’s. Idk, maybe it is because of the way their educational system is set up, but many Americans truly aren’t aware of just how much THEY are the bad guys (especially from the point of view of third world countries that have been suffering the consequences of American political interventions for a very long time). It honestly really upset me to hear her talking about how the USA “stands for freedom and democracy” when they’ve single-handedly caused every dictatorship in latin America in the past few decades (just to name ONE of the many atrocious things they’ve done). Also, Tiktok gets all the attention as if American platforms weren’t EXTREMELY fishy when it comes to handling personal data and implementing censorship…

[@Dani-in7fi]

As a Caribbean national yes 100% I was thinking everything you said to myself as I listened to her points.

[@onestepatatime7412]

thank you for pointing this out

[@m3ri254]

i think the main difference is - you are allowed to hate on the us gov. You are not allowed to hate on china.

[@ThyBookie]

Thank you Rowena. I learned a lot from your ending summary and the big take away of this: social media platforms have the ability to push users to consume certain information that can influence how they develop as an individual. This argument applies not just to Chinese TikTok but also to US platforms. Just by being conscious of this, helps me be more in control as an individual of when I should stop consuming content. Now I am thinking what is the KZbin (and other social medias) algorithm pushing to me now? What kind of content am I getting recommended? Are these recommendations helping me become a better person? Or are they encouraging me to waste my time/ feeding me detrimental content? This self-awareness is very valuable to have for all of those being raised in a world so intrenched in online content.

[@hilbillythegoat]

I wish this video focused more on the specific problems of the platform like- possible effects of overconsumption of short form, how algorithmically led platforms keeps ppl in their own eco chamber, and how this platform can be discriminatory. I wished it raised more specific awareness to think more critically, as to how, drastically different censoring restrictions should make one more cautious of what they choose to consume rather than doubling down on pushing anti communism/anti Chinese government. I think it is valid to express discomfort with ideals you don’t align with but I think it would be more fruitful to encourage thinking critically generally. As, there could be also facets of your own spiritual practice that could also be perceived by others as misleading/untrue. Even though, I lean more towards long form content but I think it’s assumptive to presume that short form content ultimately makes you more dumb.

[@zimpflanz]

I have been watching more videos explaining how harmless trends and things the influence of social media are actually manifestations of social issues that run so deep and all of this is really opening my eyes. Who would have thought that a stupid app that people use to turn off and mindlessly entertain their brain can have such a twisted scare influence and so much power. I think many people my age (00' babies) including me don't realise how much of a weird, dangerous thing social media are, because they have basically been around our whole lives. This video actually makes me want to burn my devices and move to a cave 😭😭

[@pleurnicharde]

Please share those videos!! That sounds really interesting 🙏🏽🫶🏽

[@maestro4337]

Every major government is doing some variation of this and has been for decades. Unfortunately many of our parents ignored warnings from those that went against the programming. Also some of the messaging got lost in racial debates when, in reality, EVERYONE should’ve been paying attention to the ever increasing capacity for control/oppression/Tyranny

[@elsa-wq9zw]

i'm so happy you made this video, i've gained so much more respect for you. i was silently supporting you for the past 5 years, i have seen very little influencers talk about this or address it at all - whether it be the uyghur muslims or the falun gong practitioners. i do not use tik tok either and try my best to avoid things like fast fashion etc. love u for this

[@Daniel-Deshaun]

at first i tried to avoid tiktok altogether, but now it’s every social media it’s annoying but at least i don’t need to download tiktok to watch tiktok

[@frankly9432]

I'm so tired of shorts

[@ihatoon014]

Me too 😞 I never downloaded tiktok and I even deleted instagram, but KZbin shorts is just unavoidable 😩💔

[@ThePunkHobbit]

@Hatoon at least in my experience you can get rid of KZbin shorts. There’s an option to “mute” for a month and I just do that every month.

[@idcnouvelles]

This is a good discussion, especially being a viewer of yours from a Scandinavian country in which restrictions to teens using phones are being placed, etc. I guess your input is more targeted towards your US audience, but I would also like to point out that us in the West (in Scandinavia/Nordic countries as my personal standpoint) recognize an equal amount of faults in the US system and politics/governance than in China. This is not to support or judge one of the other, but just a gentle reminder from another part of the world. Also, thanks for sharing, your passion is far more interesting than the latest suncream, tbh. 🌸

[@rowena]

thank you 🫶 and I agree - the US is far from perfect. for this video, I wanted to highlight the main topics that are often brought up when discussing whether to ban tiktok or not in the US, and help provide a bit more context

[@MargieLeigh3]

yeah i think this is smth that should me mentioned. loved rowena's perspective but these negative loopholes china uses aren't any different to the us's

[@Ecesu]

Yes, totally. The "everything the United States believes in like freedom and democracy" really gave me pause.

[@elisasolisojeda5905]

​@Ecesu same I was like "are we talking about the same USA that I know of? the one that organized coups in many countries, overthrowing democratically elected presidents, invading the middle east for economic gain etc etc... " like, those 2 countries want the same, economic control and power, is not like a good guys bad guys situation at all, they are both bad 🫠

[@oiseauprincesse]

I'm sorry but what an absolute nonsense comment. Which scandinavian country, pray tell? Couldn't possibly be Sweden, where even the youngest schoolchild has a phone on them at all times and teachers aren't allowed to question it, and every new technology is implemented unquestioningly simply because it's new. Saying that China does something negative does not preclude the fact that the US does something negative but this video is not about the US, it's about China. You may view the US and China as having an "equal amount of faults"- there are many elsewhere who would view the US and Sweden as having an "equal amount of faults" as well, that does not mean that they are the same or that every time anyone says anything about China or Sweden they must also criticize the US. Please do make your own video about north american culture and how it informs instagram and facebook's policies and the connections that these companies have with the government, I would genuinely love to watch it.

[@lovinggossipgirl]

I'm genuinely confused, didn't the current founder keep stating that TIKTOK is currently a Singaporean company tho? America and China have something in common - they are BOTH gathering data and have a history of taking countries. US history classes don't even talk about how many countries America invaded and raped asians. There's still US bases in different countries. I know this is focused on China, but we could also talk shit about America that has a mask on. So why still use Instagram that clearly gets data, discriminate body shapes (they still take down posts), and control what we see too (hello elections)? There are documentaries about how bad US social media companies are.

[@sophiallama]

The CEO is from Singapore but ByteDance (which owns Tik Tok) is a Chinese company based in Beijing. I don't really know what you're trying to do by bringing up what America is doing. Just because America does something similar to China doesn't mean we should ignore what China is doing. You can easily acknowledge both and still come to same conclusion that Rowena came to about Tik Tok. You are more than welcome to do the same with Facebook, Google, and Instagram as well.

[@thatbberg]

@@sophiallama But why single out TikTok when all the social media companies are doing this? Why not make general regulations instead of ignoring the harms US social media companies do? Facebook already enabled a genocide for crying out loud.

[@lovinggossipgirl]

@@sophiallama Please read my message again. I did NOT say ignore what China is doing. BOTH countries should not be ignored is what I curiously brought up. It's just a food for thought, because as I watched the video a bunch of things started sounding familiar (aka America & China having similarities). Which doesn't mean we should ignore the other. It's just something to think about it in addition to what Rowena is saying. Thanks :)

[@mcheloous]

thank you Rowena, I can't believe the guts it must have taken to upload this kind of video to this platform, must've felt scary, to say the least. heck, I'm scared and deeply disturbed after watching... it was very recently, by pure chance, I learned about the silent massacre going on with spiritual practices in China like the one you mentioned, and the fact that you tied it to ALL THIS just shook me to my core. thanks for putting this out there and stating your sources, bravo 👏

[@marwoj22]

Ro, that was so much needed!! So many times everyone was asking me „oh why dont you have a tiktok?” and it’s even harder question for people that wants to have a career path linked to marketing, but girl… You have once again and once for all times proved me right. Thank you Rowena ❤ You are brave and this video was epic.

[@Evanthebat15]

100% agree on this for those of us who want to do marketing, every business wants us to use TikTok and I am like "Uhhh I don't trust this company so I refuse to work with a TikTok account."

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Exactly. How even is short video format addicive? I never understood that. I don't like short videos, they lack depth and don't unfold any topic. Boring 💩

[@revivedforchrist]

This was such a well informed video! I appreciate all of the documentation that you included to support your basis! I have always said the best way to destroy someone is to do it within not externally.

[@alicek1255]

In case you want the video summary: China bad *crying emoji*

[@LaMujerdelEscritorio]

My level of respect for you has gone right through the stratosphere for this. Thank you for being so brave.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

She's also Chinese.

[@bodegacat1]

Thank you for putting all of this together and discussing the topic in such a digestible way. I hope the ~algorithm~ gets this to as many eyes as possible. Sending love, Ro!

[@xCaseeyMichellex]

I love that you posted this commentary, I’m proud to be TikTok free (although KZbin Shorts and Instagram Reels makes this feel counter-productive)… and I’m glad to hear someone else express the same thoughts as me!

[@miharu9794]

Thank you, Rowena, for sharing all of this. It's in front of our eyes but so hidden. I've never heard of this, imagine in how many people like me you're raising awareness with this video. Thank you

[@imnoisy215]

I am from Vietnam (a developing country - ASEA) and Tiktok went viral many years. Even though it has a dark side, I can't deny it also helps many people with income. We live stream for selling + affiliate products, everyone has the opportunity.

[@juliacrowe2765]

So I don't disagree that we need to be more cautious about TikTok, but I think it applies to all social media. I've been working in social media tech for a few years now, and in terms of data and what's being pushed to people, we need to be critical of all companies. The reason white supremacy has flourished so much and can't be cracked down on is because US companies are in the pocket of US government, they can't ban politicians even though they should. I would also argue that the US postures being for freedom and democracy, but actually isn't. Meta have already been caught selling user data, they're a US company. Your data isn't safe with anyone. Within TikTok, yes there are voices and influences from Beijing, but each region gets a certain amount of control on their policies so that they're regionally specific, it's not as controlled as it would appear. Also, I can confirm that those policies for live stream "no longer being in use or never used" is a thing, in Europe we saw policies like that and then ignored them, and then they were deprecated. When I say the inner workings of TikTok are *crazy chaotic* it's no joke. I started there in 2020 and there definitely felt like there was more of control from Beijing but that quickly faded and we gained a lot of autonomy in terms of policy and action taken. I don't disagree with some of the concerns expressed in this video, but I do think we're being fed a "be scared of the Chinese" narrative from the US that is being backed and manipulated by companies like Meta because TT is such a massive competitor.

[@bibouche8831]

yes very that

[@lunasivira6728]

I agree with this take

[@chendy3140]

Yeah! This video is great at doing a comprehensive breakdown of China's ugly strategy of power, but it's honestly naive to think that TikTok's strategy is not being used by other social media. When we look at the track record of the US, that doesn't look pretty either. Both of nations have conflicting interests, the US wants to maintain its position as the superpower while China wants to replace it. We, the working class, are just gonna be the victim of their contesting influence either way.

[@XerxesTexasToast]

Absolutely, 100%. Meta's whole deal and probably Google's is easily the American equivalent of whatever the hell is going on with the CCP and the companies it muscles in on. We have the First Amendment as a stopgap and bipartisan rallying cry to shout down our government when they get too handsy with our data and freedoms, but the US is absolutely subject to very similar issues, like the bit about politicians breaking TOS you mentioned. Being under the thumb of an oligarchy of CEOs isn't much better than an oligarchy of senior party members. What's more is that both of them insist that their choices exist for the benefit of everyday working people, when that's clearly a paper-thin lie. The US and China are two sides of the same shit coin.

[@meiyu33]

i understand all that and also finding out more scary things about ccp but tiktok is not the only evil one. side by side tiktok, almost all social media apps, i mean even our phone itself have more sides to just being a social media app. not just china but any big power country including us. i think we americans need to stop glorifying and think everything owned by an american company is good/safe. on the other hand about tiktok being highly addictive, degrading everyones knowledge, focus and mental power- i also think that tiktok does a great deal of damage to our brains and especially the new generation. but if banning tiktok is so vital, why are all other apps copying it and bringing the same negativity. my mom and my baby cousin watches yt shorts so much. they never used tiktok but theyre facing similar danger. yes the main topic is tiktok but it shouldnt be separated from other apps and take all the blame

[@meiyu33]

and before tiktok, there was google and siri knowing exactly what i wanted or even thought LOL this internet world is rlly scary and easily makes people anxious. i just hope we all, including myself, get more and more knowledgeable about internet safety

[@bibouche8831]

thank you for saying all this !!!

[@odelata]

this is way too perfectly disseminated. i love you Rowena, and i am also very proud of you and how bold and intentional you are to provide us with critical thinking on the way we use these media platforms. thanks a million for sharing this! ❤

[@vanillalatte5227]

I have gotten tired of TikTok because I realised the app show me specific content at night that influenced me to feel vulnerable. Over time, I got so drained and I eventually deleted it.

[@bethelgashawgebeyehu8296]

Rowena, you truly are one of the people I want to listen to as you base all your videos on deep information you yourself have tested. I love how your videos flow and how they are structured. It's easily understood. This video was much needed by the global community to reveal the bigger picture of nations, and even certain influential individuals. We need to understand the strings that are being pulled and work hard to achieve our personal freedom. You are one of the thought leaders for this. So Thank you and be blessed with more wisdom.

[@oamahana]

Tiktok is gone of my phone since 2 years now, I have noticed several changes since I no longer have the application (I am 16 years old)✨️ - More mood swings (depending on the videos) - I am less impulsive - I gained self-confidence (from not using beauty filters)🍦 - I know how to separate the true or false more easily - Less focused on the physical. ( tiktok has put forward new beauty standards every year, whether for the face or the body. Now that I no longer have the application, I have my own sports goals and I love myself as I am !)💕💕 - Less locked in a "bubble". (I know how to take advantage of my family, my loved ones. When I was on tiktok, time passed so quickly. But it's done on purpose! Everything is done on purpose for you to stay as long as possible.)

[@knottyseedling]

More people need to see this... for sure. This is scary stuff. Thank you Rowena.

[@AnaGomez-vf8jj]

I agree with every single word you said. But to oppose the whole concept against what USA does because of their principles of “freedom of speech and liberty for all”? If one thing has come clear to me is that China (and the way communism has work) it’s very VERY upfront most part of the time in what they want. They have things in rules and on paper (like you showed us). But for “the west” this whole view is SHADY af, they have always use the long game strategy, the “conquer the culture” strategy, the “influence the minds” strategy. And that is why we have those in power today. It is not the freedom, it is the illusion that we have freedom where everything in our surroundings has always been telling us what to do and not to do. I mean it is not like before 2020 and Tiktok other forces didn’t influence culture making us believe we are acting under our own decisions, you know? Is China Gov playing that game too? Yes they are. Is it becoming even more letal nowadays with all of this AI and Social Media and affecting young minds globally? That is also true. But I don’t think we should fall into the false illusion of thinking that they are the only problem, and we are ok without them. Let’s remember the rest of the apps, technology, 1% rich billionaires flying to space, Outsourcing shady companies, etc are not Chinese, or even communist. They all serve the view of “express what you want, earn the money you want, do whatever you want” USA praise so much. And about collecting our data? We can search that story of how Facebook told the police a Mother was helping her daughter to get an abr*tn through Facebook messenger in Nebraska and they both were detained. We are really not safe anywhere and we never have been. I guess I say this as a person who is not from USA and living in a third world country that has suffer the consequences of all. Once again, non of the options are good. Like you said, it’s not about right or left, it’s about having the power to control. And that’s what has always been happening.

[@hannah-jv5hh]

people need to see this comment, i felt like a lot of the video was quite biased and it would be better if we looked at both perspectives of the east and west????

[@carrieislost]

This comment is so important and I hope more people see it.

[@IsabelleRibeiroS]

it amazes me how USA citizens are completely unaware of their country's spreading shit around in the world and other countries' population and culture.

[@bibouche8831]

Yes yes and yes. I feel like this video is too biased maybe because of the thought that western people are brought up to think that the situation of ""democracies"" like the US is fine and that nothing is wrong with them because "at least we are not like China or Russia" who also happen to both be linked to communism, and therefore the Cold War and the Red Scare (USA/Capitalism VS Communism), when in fact, our agency in these democracies are flouted. It is so ingrained in our brains by education system, politics, even marketing etc. that there's a self-righteousness that develops which then allows to criticize other countries that we see as less...than when in reality our governments are doing the same, they are just better at hiding it because it's directly included in the systems in place .

[@strawberryyyyy4547]

Sooo proooouuud of youuuu Rowena! Thank you so much for this. The world needs more meaningful creators like you. Thank you for this community that you have created. You deserve all the good things in the world.

[@eiramellocin]

you should be proud of yourself!!! well informed video and thank you for your efforts in creating this and sharing this information ❤️ i never felt right about tiktok to begin with and never have downloaded it, seems like my instinct was valid

[@RachelHardy]

thank you for making this

[@chandlerangol6718]

If this video gets deleted I’m done

[@vincyagain]

Thank you so much for making this video Rowena. You are so brave for making this video honestly. I hope this video find the right people who do want to learn and see this app as more than just a tool or method to get viral fast.

[@VictoriaLyman]

Thank you for posting this! I like many people got sucked into TikTok during the pandemic even though I swore I would never download it. I got off of it sometime within the last year because 1) I quickly realized how much of my time it was consuming and 2) it was wild the things it started feeding me that made me question who I am, what I like, & how my brain works. I am lucky I was smart enough to catch onto that before it fully grasped me but I'm sure there's millions on there who are not smart enough to catch onto that soon enough.

[@MissRG_THFC]

Thanks! I have always been shifty about Tiktok and refused to download it. At first is was because of addictive nature of it (the doom scrolling element of it that I exhibited in friends and family more than in any other app) and then when I learned the stuff you are talking about it confirmed my decision not to give in. This video is great content.

[@thyme-in-a-bubble]

I already quit that app a year ago (I'm autistic, just wasn't for me as a lot of social media tends not to be), but watching this really just hammered the nails in the coffin that is that app. I'm never EVER going back.

[@smritipatawari5852]

Now I am actually glad that Tiktok is banned here in India!

[@dreaminland8233]

girl there’s ig reels and KZbin shorts to compensate for that…we cannot escape from it either

[@smritipatawari5852]

@@dreaminland8233 true, but I feel tiktok is way worse than ig and Facebook

[@smritipatawari5852]

@@dreaminland8233 and like Ro said, it all comes down to us being more mindful about the content we're consuming

[@lisbethgrahamco]

OOf girl this is incredible and you did a phenomenal job explaining why certain people aren’t on TT. It is seriously really eye opening

[@freyaday6076]

I have also Completely stayed off of TikTok and after watching your video I’m very glad that I have. I would love to see more videos like this from you Rowena! My favourite thing about your videos has always been your soothing voice but this was so well researched and informative and on such an interesting topic!

[@dawert2667]

It’s insane how much relief I felt when I deleted tik tok and whenever I delete instagram (which is hesitatingly redownloaded every so often to make sure I don’t miss messages from my friends). My addictive personality craves the mindless scroll but my mental health is never worse than when I have these apps downloaded. Its humbling and terrifying

[@wplants9793]

No pressure, guilt or shame, but in case you needed some encouragement, I’m so happy I deleted Instagram over a year ago. But I’m not gonna lie, I still spend a little bit too much time on my phone. Now I’m scrolling on KZbin. But KZbin doesn’t make me feel lonely and terrible about myself. And I get i’m bored of KZbin and take regular breaks no prob

[@JustKaylaNicole]

Never got involved with TikTok, and your video validates the way I feel about this application. To this day, it's never been downloaded on my or my partner's phone and we plan to keep it that way. It just never felt right... Thank you so much for the video, Rowena!

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Same, seems too shallow.

[@ariannabradley6742]

This is why I’ve recently started rethinking watching things like KZbin shorts and stories on different platforms More so for the mental component. Sadly I’ve noticed my own decline and want my mind back.

[@Cauldron6]

I work in Marketing... I do not use and will NEVER use Tik Tok. Take it from someone who sees the back end..... NOT WORTH IT!!!! Keep your sanity and STAY OFF! Thanks for this video, Rowena!

[@beezaroni]

I loved this. Thank you so so much for sharing this Rowena

[@starsonapollo2]

First!! Love u Rowena!! Been watching your vids forever!

[@rowena]

grateful for u :')

[@mahoirigoyen]

GREAT. FREKING. VIDEO. I usually like your content but this was just... LOVE it, more of this please!

[@lucy_woodward]

thank you Rowena! I've recently deleted instagram and it's been such a positive change

[@hulstberries]

Thanks for making this! I really feel like this is swept under the rug by so many people when it should be getting more attention.

[@loriana9340]

Rowena, holy shit! people really need to hear ALL OF THIS. thank you so much... i admire your bravery!!!

[@clem2023]

Ok I've seen a lot of videos about Tiktok lately, and I can say honestly, you do have a "fresh" take on it ! Thank you for your work and for your honesty

[@timber4863]

Yessss Rowe!!!! I deleted it five months ago after i realized what a detriment it was to my mental state. This just reinforces my decision. Youre so brave for doing this. thank you

[@melanie_meanders]

thank you so much for making this video. i found out about this a few months ago and i’m honestly shocked that people have no idea! i deleted the app immediately after finding out

[@liliesinjune4334]

Very important video! Thank you for covering this topic so thoughtfully even though you were hesitant! You never know how many people are on the same wavelength as you especially with the increased censorship these days.

[@alyfink]

Rowena, I’m only 6 minutes in and this is already so informative and educational. Thank you for your time, effort, & courage in making this video 🙏🏻

[@sharaa___9259]

I've been watching your videos for a long time, and honestly, every time my respect for you grows (exponentially). Thank you (I haven't ever downloaded tictok etc...) I really appreciate the information you are providing. Not only are you educating us, but you're helping us understand what happens in the background through research.

[@april-vq2mh]

I used to spend hours and hours on TikTok.. but you’ve opened my eyes and I’ll change it to do better. I mostly liked it for the info around the world/funny vids but there’s times where politics, sad vids, violence, etc, make me so emotional very quickly which is not normal.

[@maddielee1109]

you are so cool to me, this slays, thank you for being so... considerate and cautious and like... you just seem to know how impactful your platform can be and took great care in being as transparent and genuine as possible with good intentions. i really appreciate seeing creators like you. this was so well organized and although this topic is overwhelming and massive in itself, i was able to come away with a much better understanding of it. thank you thank you!

[@polygollie]

the main ideas in this video are pretty important but I would argue most of these issues are just as much an issue in US based social media companies. I was trying my best to follow through the video and hear you out but the use of a Joe Rogan clip, a podcast host who is extremely well known for spreading misinformation and giving platform to various forms of propaganda (even if the guest is more reliable), is extremely tone deaf.

[@snayk60]

For real, I was with her but equating the CCP to all of communism and using a Joe Rogan clip really took me out.

[@michaelbayron]

This is really insightful! Thanks for sharing! Really amazing work doing all the research and structuring it in a way that is clear and concise.

[@riskie1208]

actually really appreciated the background bc I study asian studies at uni and also did a module this year on new religious movements and it's really nice to see someone covering a lot of these things that us younger ppl haven't typically heard of bc a lot of it was pretty pivotal when i found out about it

[@angelanguyen451]

Go Rowena! I fully support you for sharing your thoughts on this, I've also been having the same thoughts. I think it's truly important to have these conversations. You're not alone.

[@kristaarsenault1226]

Thank you for speaking out about this! Incredibly brave and sooo important.

[@laulauourga]

as someone who is disabled, I promised myself not to download it. But then I did, and I found A LOT of content made by and for disabled people. I just deleted the app to help with my attention span and also because your video makes sense. But now I wonder what other media or source could give me this sense of community and just content made by and for disabled people. Which is very ironic considering they always want to ban us from tiktok.

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Facebook groups with your niche should be great! From a fellow disabled person.

[@merveillejacquet2696]

I watched this video when it came out but took some time to formulate my thoughts. I've been following you for a few years, and I admit that this video surprised me a bit. I am not American or of Asian origin and in my country of origin there are no large social network companies, however the criticisms that you make of TikTok may in my opinion and according to the information extend to all major RS, KZbin including in the processing of personal data. Why the negative aspects of some social networks in the processing of data is accepted and not for TikTok? This video seems to me to discharge on an application and not on the others under cover of objectivity. And the vast majority of comments point in this direction. When big American companies do it, it doesn't matter, but for a Chinese company the speech is different? I'm a little disappointed, to be honest. Good luck with your channel. :)

[@rowena]

hi Merveille, really appreciate you taking the time to process & share such a thoughtful comment. there’s only so much info that can be fit into a video online, so perhaps I didn’t do the best job setting up the context of how the chinese govt operates differently from the US/the rest of the world. highly recommend looking into this topic outside of this vid, a great book is Stealth War by Robert Spalding (he also has a lot of interviews on KZbin)

[@AcetaldehydeMoore]

Honestly, even though Tiktok is a current trend in the Philippines, I never even once tried it. I just don’t see it as a helpful tool for my mental health or even for boosting my productivity. As I mature, I learned that not all trends should be followed in order to keep up. It’s up to you if you’ll use these apps, preference and opinions differ per person. Last 2020 I stopped using Facebook at first I was afraid of letting go the only platform that would show me my friends or other person’s personal life. But after realizing that it’s really not worth it, that I could live without knowing other people’s stuff, I moved on from it and now, I don’t need it anymore. I feel less insecure, and more controlled what I want to see in social media. Thank you, Ro for also teaching us to be in control when using our phones.

[@1zste]

Would love to see a video like this about instagram and meta as well

[@devotedtoextraordinary]

I’m deleting my TikTok! Known about a few of these things, but I really am cutting down on any and all things that don’t align with my real and true VALUES!! Thank you Rowena!

[@jules3169]

Rowena, thank you so much for sharing these informations. I have always wanted to do more researches on this topic, because as a teen girl I can see the impact that social medias ( especially TikTok) have on people of my age, and especially now I’ve noticed how most of the things that we gain through them are negative and very toxic. Please keep spreading this!!!

[@flyinnocentazn]

Thank you for making this video. My husband deals with cybersecurity and warned me not to download TikTok even though it may help my other social media platforms grow. Til this day I still have not signed up for TikTok, and now I’m not sure that I will.

[@bellegraves]

I had downloaded tiktok during the pandemic and became wildly addicted to it. Like to a degree that disrupted any activity I tried to accomplish, I couldn't stop picking up my phone. I also realized how badly it was affecting my mental health. I ended up doing a lot of research on the dangers of social media in general. I haven't had tiktok in many months now and I will never go back. My head is so much quieter, my phone usage is almost nothing, and I actually get things done!

[@cordeliastockwell1837]

Thank you so much for making this! I respect you and hope you know how supported you are!! Now, to share this with my people so that they are aware 💖✨

[@margaretryuu4365]

Hi Rowena, I really enjoy your contents, especially some has helped me through mental sufferings. I understand where you are coming from and thanks for sharing your view on this. However as a Chinese national who has lived in the US for the last few years, I'm sad that framing the ticktock problem as CCP manipulation makes people attack and blame each other to be at fault, while ignoring the common suffering. Addiction to ticktock and short videos in general, is a global problem, and people in China are suffering from the same technologies as well. I'm heartbroken when I see every single person looking at there phones in China, on metro, in restaurant, walking on the street, even if they are with someone else they don't talk to each other. It's not just government censorship or manipulation that makes people more addicted or less. There's truly a side where the CCP have manipulation over the data and contents, but at the root and for each individual I feel all of us are trying to learn to be at peace with the new technology.

[@carolinefiorito]

The US does this as well. The point is that after WWII they forced a concept of democracy and freedom that is simply not real and they judge others (when it’s convenient, of course! Cause their businesses and support to Saudi Arabia are on fire!) through their lenses. Many of the things she pointed are not correct, and as a Chinese you know it. What bothers me is that Americans try to force a goodness and freedom in them that does not exist! Freedom to Americans, but not to “third world” countries. And, to be honest, Americans companies do the exact same all the way. You know what this is? Another wave of “communism sucks” in history. Cause they’re seeing China is thriving and the clock is ticking. The Chinese government is far from being perfect, but I think people should acknowledge that the US sucks as much, if not much more, as China.

[@anniebootboot]

Wisest comment in the thread. She made some points, however, the video does nothing to protect the interests of regular Chinese civilians and if anything - continues to fuel the deep xenophobia that runs rampant in this country. Almost like she's virtue signaling that she's one of us (Americans) + "pick me" vibes coming from an Asian American.

[@jellyfishes-png]

@@anniebootboot it’s because she’s a cultist (falun gong member) she doesn’t care about xenophobia bc she’s sinophobic herself lol

[@anniebootboot]

@@jellyfishes-png Bet lemme educate myself on Falun Gong

[@Bruhhfsfs]

Social media and internet detoxes are so important. I spend as little time as possible on social media. And I go entirely without social media for at least a month per year. Let’s keep sane.

[@clara-rp5nq]

i don't usually leave comments on youtube, but this video kind of shook me in a way. Scrolling through the comments, most people (probably mostly americans) think this is eye opening information. But It is known worldwide about china's government censorship and dictatorship-like policies. To be honest, i was expecting to learn about the long term effects that tiktok might have in our generation ,etc, but instead this video felt like i was thrown a bucket filled with american "communist bad" propaganda. Its interesting how america's culture is about (at least for me seeing this type of stuff as a foreigner) creating a common enemy that threatens the country and that ""we"" as americans need to fight against the evil, when in reality , america itself is as or even more corrupt/ ""evil"" than these other countries. pD: conclusion, gringos siendo gringos

[@rho2738]

To find your answer, you need to watch more scientific channels or read scientific articles, such as National Institute of Health - Libray of Medicine: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8393543/ There are LOTS of scientific articles on the danger of TikTok. I am more intrigued by your statement about "communist bad" propaganda. Rowena was talking about CCP Chinese Communist Party's actual history, not communist is bad.

[@ammygamer]

I work in tech, as a game designer/programmer. Games work a lot with understanding the player's perception of what is on screen, and then creating the an experiences that either adds to said understanding (creating feelings of amazement, satisfaction or realization) or breaks it in some way (puzzlement/shock/etc). I had a Facebook back when I was in my teenage years. I barely touched it for a year. I felt very uncomfortable about using it. I can't put my finger on it, but I would always log out and had this faint nagging sensation that I had simply wasted a lot of time. That it didn't add anything that I couldn't have figured out or do before having an account. And then there was this feeling of wrongness of having my face everywhere online, whenever I wanted or not (because other people are also uploading photos that have you and tagging you on them), and being strangely okay with advertising their entire lives as if it was a bragging championship...? So I deleted it. I felt it was all very ridiculous, that it wasn't okay at all to offer all that info about anyone in exchange for a service that has more value in a person's data than the actual person. Since then I've never had a single social media account that I didn't use EXCLUSIVELY for work and nothing else, despite knowing/working with tech and knowing a lot on the subject. It's strange, because a lot of things I've learnt from "game design", from scummy corpos trying to push us into creating ways ti exploit people through terrible games that are essentially slot machines might I add, are now clearly being used at large in social media designing and in the way people are being offered services and subscriptions... And people are okay with that, because they don't have a clue on what stuff like "hot state" is and what it is used for, among other topics. People are at their most easily to influence when they are happy or when they are feeling lazy. Their guard is down. Their brain is relaxed and ready to absorb new info. That's something that they have seen in games that they are now trying to apply to everything. I hate it. I hate how they took the core potential of something I love and are using it now as a way to exploit people, instead of uplifting and inspiring them.

[@m_ms39]

26:20 having downloaded tiktok as an adult I never thought about this. This is absolutely terrifying.

[@hinamasud]

I have been moving between UAE, UK and Pakistan during the last few years..and one thing i absolutely hate it is that i have zero control over what I am watchign next..i got pretty into tiktok recently but i realized i have no control over what i see..as soon as i change country..the content suggested to me is completely different..even if i search for something specific..i just CANNOT find the content from a different location..it's so annoying..but i realize how it can stop ppl from discovering anything new or create a silo mentality..

[@wenavibes]

It's a valuable insight and details. Your self care and self improvement content has always been my inspiration, you're someone I admire. Appreciate your effort for showing facts and sharing your opinion on this issue. Unfortunately, even in Malaysia, I'm seeing kids mindlessly scrolling through TikTok on the dining tables at the restaurants with almost zero interactions with people around em, completely distracted by phones/tablets. It's really unhealthy for their development, especially when they can't even focus on basic tasks...

[@cecephipps]

This is such an important perspective. I don’t think I’ve heard it tied together so elegantly. Well done!! I hope it’s shared widely so that this is better understood in the context of the wider global landscape. It is the perspective of how seemingly small things have a dramatic impact over time. It is the LONG game. Many of us just don’t have an appreciation of how our collective actions today will impact the future and we are surprised at how the future unfolds. And we care exclusively about right now and have little intentional action for the future. The spinach vs opium analogy really hit it home for me. Thank you. I had rarely used TikTok in the past but have now deleted it.

[@spiralali]

Thank you so much for creating such a thorough video. I've avoided TikTok because it just didn't ever feel right to me. This video confirms my inner ick feeling about it, and I really appreciate all the effort you put into creating this video, I look forward to checking out your other videos.

[@carleecomm]

Thank you so much for taking the time to create this video! Now, when my friends ask if I'm on TikTok yet, I can finally provide the answer as to why, and why I never will be... by sending your video. :D

[@anse.youtube]

THANK YOU for making this video!! ♡

[@nguyenduong3479]

Great video, Ro!! I’ve never had tiktok account and won’t. It’s sad seeing people around me get so addicted to tiktok content and spent hours scrolling on it without living their life in the present moment

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Sad, but every person makes their choice. Most people are weak minded on average, it seems.

[@charlotteharmon4525]

I’ve been waiting for a video like this. I’ve been trying to convince my friends for you to get off tiktok but they always cast off my reasons as conspiracies. Thank you so much 😢❤

[@mikesamovarov4054]

Think for yourself, don't be a sheep. Remove it asap, with care for your own mental health and not wasting personal time, we have so little of on this planet.

[@ievamarija2100]

Wow….. all the puzzles put together in one video. This is literally the only video people need to watch this week

[@esmeraldalopez4684]

Thank you for the time and energy you put into making such an informative eye opening video. Mighty grateful for the way you helped us zoom out and see a fuller picture of what is really going on.