Credit: Getty
3 min read
Is TikTok making it harder for us to pay attention to long-form content such as books and films? And if so, is there anything we can do about it? Stylist’s Lauren Geall investigates.
I may *technically* be Gen Z, but it took me a while to get into TikTok. At first, I didn’t really understand it. I’ve always loved Instagram, and I wasn’t sure what made TikTok so unique. However, the more the hype built up, the more intrigued I became. Was I really missing out on hundreds of new trends? Did my lack of TikTok-related knowledge make me… irrelevant?
After months of resistance, the FOMO became too much and, eventually, I signed up for an account. Almost straight away, I realised what everyone had been so excited about; with posts on my ‘For You’ feed ranging from hilarious dog videos to stigma-breaking insights into life on a mental health ward, TikTok felt like an open door to the world and its many complexities.
Soon, I found myself spending ages before bed simply scrolling through my feed. Using any kind of technology before bed generally isn’t a good idea, but surprisingly, I didn’t find my TikTok use impacting my sleep. I did, however, feel something else shifting: my attention span.
Sign up for the latest news and must-read features from Stylist, so you don’t miss out on the conversation.
By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy
Thank you!
You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.