'TikTok brain' may be coming for your kid's attention span

What happens to kids' brains when they binge TikTok's endless stream of bite-sized videos?

A brain sits in space with colored flowing lines around
Could binging TikTok videos make it harder to pay attention?
(Image credit: Jonathan Kitchen / Getty Images)

TikTok has had an undeniable effect on our culture, but it has also faced increased scrutiny over the years. In addition to national security concerns, there has also been increased interest in how the platform impacts mental health and brain function, especially in the kids and teens who populate the app. Some early studies suggest it could be changing their attention spans. 

The platform hosts an endless stream of bite-size videos, delivering entertaining content in as little as 15 seconds. Young people who binge-watch short-form content like TikTok or Instagram Reels find it harder "to participate in activities that don't offer instant gratification," Julie Jargon wrote in The Wall Street Journal, an effect she called "TikTok brain."

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Theara Coleman, The Week US

Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September 2022. She frequently writes about technology, education, literature and general news. She was previously a contributing writer and assistant editor at Honeysuckle Magazine, where she covered racial politics and cannabis industry news.