Doctor Warns: Playing “TikTok-Reels” Can Trigger Psychosis
A renowned brain and nervous system specialist, Professor Dr. Surat Tanprawet, posted a concerning message on his “Brain Knowledge with Dr. Surat” page on November 6, 2023. The doctor revealed a distressing case of latent psychosis triggered by the excessive use of TikTok and Reel, the popular video platforms.
In a recent consultation, Dr. Surat encountered a female patient in her forties who had become addicted to TikTok and began experiencing hallucinations. It is important to note that patients experiencing hallucinations and hearing impairments are usually categorized as psychiatric cases. However, this particular patient sought assistance from a brain medicine specialist, which piqued Dr. Surat’s curiosity due to the fast and peculiar onset of her symptoms.
The patient, who had been actively engaging with TikTok Reel for four months, spent hours every day watching and reposting videos. The platform’s addictive nature, the joy of receiving likes and shares, and the escapism it offered from the real world had consumed her. She became so enthralled with the platform that she even started creating and sharing her own content, yearning for validation through likes and shares.
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward, plays a key role in the addictive allure of social media platforms like TikTok. When users receive likes, shares, and comments, dopamine is released, further fueling their desire for engagement.
However, in this unsettling case, the patient reported hearing whispers urging her to create videos in a certain way. These whispers eventually led to her hallucinating and perceiving the person she was speaking to. Disturbingly, she believed she was being followed by a man in black clothing, eventually leading her concerned relatives to seek medical help, thus bringing the situation to Dr. Surat’s attention.
While this case may seem extraordinary, Dr. Surat has come across similar instances that exhibit the eerie grip of TikTok. He recounts encountering an aunt who had fallen into a virtual black hole, losing touch with reality, all due to her addiction to the platform. She, too, claimed that someone had instructed her to behave in certain ways.
Experts, including Tammy Qiu from Stanford University’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, highlight the role algorithms play in fostering addiction on social media. Qiu refers to the design of video platforms like TikTok Reel as “brain-baiting design,” strategically engineered to stimulate the release of dopamine and trigger inhibitions within the brain, much like substance addiction.
Dopamine is also closely linked to psychosis, making these platforms potentially dangerous for individuals with hidden mental illnesses or emotional instability. It is important to note that schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder, can be exacerbated by consuming content that is disconnected from reality, as the algorithm tends to prioritize and amplify such content.
In a study published by Ghosh and colleagues in The International Journal of Recent Scientific Research in 2021, they reported a similar case of a patient addicted to TikTok, who experienced psychotic hallucinations. Chillingly, some individuals claim that these hallucinations are prompted by external entities commanding their actions.
Dr. Surat suggests that the prolonged exposure to TikTok Reel, particularly for those with latent psychopathic tendencies, may increase the risk of developing hallucinations, as the dopamine levels are continually heightened. While this should not concern most individuals with a stable mental state, it serves as a stark warning for those with predisposed vulnerabilities.
It is worth noting that several TikTok videos contain disturbing and eerie content, such as Chinese girls singing and dancing in an unfamiliar language, videos on loops, loud noises accompanied by screaming, and perplexing live streams featuring individuals mirroring robotic behavior. These videos, when continuously consumed, can amplify the feeling of unease and create an unsettling environment.
The algorithms guiding the content on TikTok often cater to users’ preferences, resulting in an isolation from reality, as users drown in a curated feed devoid of diverse perspectives.
On the other hand, individuals with psychiatric conditions may find solace in platforms like TikTok Reel, using them as a means of substitute social interaction when venturing out into society becomes challenging.
It is crucial for teachers and parents to monitor their children’s online activities. Excessive usage of social media, especially when it blurs the lines between virtuality and reality or induces fear, warrants seeking professional help from a psychiatrist.
Dr. Surat’s insightful warning sheds light on the potential dangers of inordinate TikTok usage, urging users to exercise caution in embracing the addictive allure of these platforms. The responsibility lies with both the individual and the platform to strike a balance between entertainment and mental well-being.
PS: Although health education and book-reading clips can be beneficial, it is essential to approach them with care and moderation.
Photo from AFP
doctor warns play “TikTok-Reels” induces latent psychosis He saw a hallucination – someone whispered
On November 6, 2023, reporters reported “Rev. Professor Dr. Surat Tanprawet”, brain and nervous system specialist Posted a message via the “Brain knowledge with Dr Surat” page stating that
“Found a case of playing TikTok and Reel triggering latent psychosis.
Recently, I met a female patient in the government, about 40 years old, who was addicted to TikTok and later saw hallucinations.
That is, a patient with hearing impairment and hallucinations is usually a psychiatric patient. But this is a consultation for brain medicine. Because it’s fast, it’s weird.
This person has been playing TikTok Reel for 4 months, posting every day, watching the video over and over, pressing Like and Share It’s fun and encouraging, laughing and getting away from it the real world. They say that until they produce their own content and run after Like Share.
That is, one presses Like, Share, Comment and happily, dopamine is released.
This patient said that for 5 days, someone was whispering to make a video like that, like this. He told the technician that he started hallucinating seeing the person he was talking to going there. “He is here. Come and whisper too. Did you see? There is a man wearing black clothes following him,” until his relatives took him to the hospital.
This kind of thing is not unheard of. Because last month I met an aunt who was sitting around playing TikTok. The world disappeared into TikTok until I couldn’t find a way out. As for real life, the spooky life of TikTok also came out. Someone told me to do that.
Video links and hauntings We were curious. We played in loops. It was fun and we laughed a lot. I don’t see anything wrong with it, plowing continuously for days, forgetting days and nights is fun. But people with hidden mental illness Or maybe not an emotional state of instability
People with schizophrenia This may be the real disease. The disease is not real. and often consume content that is disconnected from the truth The algorithm catches it. This time feeding heavily. Scared even more
Tammy Qiu of Stanford University’s Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence discussed the views of psychologists on social media that have algorithms to feed people to become addicted.
“Designing a video or content and endlessly plowing through the feed like this is brain-baiting design, also known as a hook. By design, he hopes to overcome inhibitions in the brain. By stimulating the brain to release dopamine, which is like drug addiction.”
And we know that this Dopamine also causes psychosis. That is, they share the same origin. Antipsychotics use drugs that block Dopamine, such as Haloperidol.
In 2021, researchers Ghosh and colleagues published in the journal The International Journal of Recent Scientific Research also reported on a patient who was addicted to TikTok videos and who also had psychotic hallucinations like this. Some people are intimidated by someone ordering this nun.
Personally, I think the reason why video platforms like TikTok Reel are scary like this can be many things. Playing until addicted for a long time stimulates Dopamine higher, which is the cause of hallucinations. Mostly normal people It shouldn’t be a problem, but anyone with a trait, a latent psychopath waiting to be triggered, can show symptoms more easily.
There are many videos that have a scary look, including Chinese girls singing and dancing. I don’t know what language it is It goes around and around This is scary People making loud noises and screaming This is also scary Doing live and meeting people who behave strangely. Talking like a robot Also, they do this repeatedly, called NPC Live, or acting like a bot. This one, the professor said, could make a psychopath look scary.
The algorithm that will only feed the stories we watch will cause people who like to watch weird and scary things to get the feed. Never fall off. Living in a world separated from reality
On the other hand, people with psychiatric disorders Sometimes you don’t dare or don’t want to go out in society, so you use TikTok Reel or other social media as a channel.
Teachers recommend that you look after your children. Or an elderly mother, if you play too much, are you confusing social media with the truth? Or did you get scared after watching it? If so, I invite you to see a psychiatrist.
Teacher Surat
PS Well, there is a point. Health teaching clips teaching clips Clip of a group reading a book. Use it carefully.”
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