TikTok's Secret Documents Revealed: Users Can Become Addicted in 35 Minutes

TikTok is aware that its platform can cause addiction (photo: dock. unsplash)

JAKARTA – TikTok was sued by 13 US states and Washington DC on October 8 for failing to protect the mental health of teenagers. This lawsuit is also based on the company's internal report.

According to the laws in force in several states, TikTok must submit an internal report regarding the company's research data. This report must be kept confidential because the authorities have signed a confidentiality agreement with TikTok.

However, the lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Attorney General's Office accidentally revealed the contents of the document. According to the NPR report, this document was revealed because Kentucky Public Radio copied and pasted the material as a quote.

This confidential document shows that TikTok is aware of the main problem with its platform, which is that it causes addiction. TikTok is also aware that some of the tools they have developed are useless or tend to be ignored by users.

Based on TikTok's research results, users will become accustomed to using the platform after watching 260 videos. Although the video duration varies, many videos are made with a duration of 8 seconds. If a video with a duration of 8 seconds appears up to 260 times, the average user will be addicted within 35 minutes.

TikTok is also aware that its platform is harmful to the mental health of teenagers. The platform can diminish analytical skills, memory formation, contextual thinking, depth of conversation, empathy, and increase anxiety if used compulsively.

Compulsive use of TikTok also interferes with users’ responsibilities, such as neglecting adequate sleep, forgetting schoolwork or work that needs to be completed, and can neglect relationships with loved ones.

To limit excessive use of TikTok, the platform has created a screen time tool with a time limit of 60 minutes. However, from TikTok's findings, the duration of screen use for teenagers only decreased by 1.5 minutes to 107 minutes on average per day.

After the document was revealed and widely shared, TikTok explained that this quote was misleading and came from an old confidential document. This circulating quote is also considered to distort TikTok's commitment to the health of its users.

"We have strong protections in place, including proactively removing users suspected of being underage, and we have voluntarily launched safety features (for children under 16)," said TikTok Spokesperson Alex Haurek.