Why TikTok Is Actually Good For Us (If We Use It Right)

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

Scrolling through TikTok has become so normal that “brain rot” is practically a punchline. People joke about the foggy feeling that comes after an hour or two of mindlessly watching video after video. But what if we flipped the script? What if TikTok is good for us

if we approach it with intention?

Let’s unpack “brain rot,” take a deeper look at TikTok’s algorithm and its infamous “For You” page, and talk about how you can make TikTok a positive, even productive, tool in your life.

What Is “Brain Rot” and How Does It Happen?

The term “brain rot” gets tossed around to describe the mental burnout that can follow hours of screen time.

This can happen with any media, but it’s especially tied to apps like TikTok, where quick, constantly shifting videos captivate our attention (and provide a rush of dopamine) every few seconds.

Over time, these repeated jolts of pleasure — combined with a lack of real engagement — can feel like a kind of mental “fog.” After a while, it’s hard to remember what you even watched.

And the truth is, it’s easy to fall into this trap on TikTok.

It’s designed to keep you engaged as long as possible, showing you a nonstop…