Emilie Ackerman

Do you ever notice how TikTok knows exactly how to keep you scrolling on the app? I notice whenever I say I will go on TikTok for five minutes, it could turn into an hour. This is not an accident — that is persuasive technology. Persuasive technologies are scientifically tested design strategies to manipulate human behavior towards a desired goal, like increasing time on a site or user engagement. The alogrithms pick up on what kind of content interests you so you do not exit the app.

As technology is becoming more advanced and people are generally drawn to their phones, persuasive technologies have caused serious consequences among kids and teens, like depression, suicide, anxiety, and social isolation. Since social media only highlights the positive aspects of a person’s life, young adults tend to compare themselves to others, leading to a loss of self-esteem. I know from my own experience in my twenties that social media makes me feel that way all the time. As a result, I end up getting insecure about myself, and that I might not be achieving enough, or that I am behind in life.

How can we solve this problem? The first step would be awareness. We need to understand that these apps are only designed to capture attention at all costs. The more we are aware of how persuasive technology works and limit ourselves from it, the more we will stop tearing ourselves down. This means setting screen-time limits, avoiding social media before bed, and unfollowing accounts that trigger comparison. Another thing that is really important is reminding ourselves that social media only shows the highlights of people’s lives.