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I downloaded TikTok. earlier this year. I realized early on that the app has an algorithm that helps identify your interests, and then shows you videos that match. For example, on my feed, there are videos of "mom life," "belly dancing," "make-up application," and, of course, "OCD Toks." I started finding myself trying all of the tips and tricks I was watching.
For instance, since getting the app, I have been at Sephora five times, buying the products I watched the people on TikTok using. Also, I have been trying the mom hacks and belly dancing moves as well.
I was discussing this with one of my clients last week. My client struggles with binge eating. As I was telling her about my experiences with the Tok, she explained to me, as a joke, that all of the eating and cooking content videos appear straight away for her. I asked her if she has been trying out the eaters' and cookers' tips and tricks and she said, yes, all the time.
She explained how she tries all the new Tok recipes. She even told me about the expression, "TikTok made me try it." She said there is one lady who puts whipped cream on Oreo cookies. So, my client went to the grocery store the next morning and bought, yep, Oreos and whipped cream.
As human beings, we are vicarious learners. What that means is that we learn from the experiences of others. We also end up trying what other people are doing that we watched. This explains the concept of "trends" and "popularity." Therefore, watching people on TV, in movies, or on TikTok eating may make us want to eat also.
This does not just relate to TikTok; any form of media can produce this effect. I remember years ago, watching the film, Miss Congeniality. In the movie, the character sits at a bar and orders a pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Want to know what happened after I watched this excellent movie? Yep, I went to the store and bought a pint of ice cream because I wanted to get "chip-faced," as the character referred to it, as well.
The major difference is that watching a movie was a one time occurrence 10 years ago. TikTok and other social media platforms are in our face constantly throughout the day. It is important for people to understand that if you have a goal, or if you are struggling with a problem, watching others engaging in the behaviors you would like to "subtract" is a dangerous idea. You would want to watch others engaging in the behaviors that you want to "add."
This is exactly what my client did after we spoke. She made some adjustments to her TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. She began watching fitness, running, and comedy videos. She got rid of watching people eating and cooking. She also made adjustments with her in person socializations. She spent more time with her friends and family that had their eating habits under control. She still spent time with her friends who did not have healthy relationships with food, but she stopped going out to eat or cooking with those people.
