Lou Momège / Photo credits: Lionel Bonaventure
In Switzerland, a clinic opened at the beginning of the year to specifically care for young adults who have become addicted to TikTok. While many fall into the trap of the Chinese social network’s algorithms, many also realize their dependence and want to escape.
In France, 21.4 million of us use the TikTik application on our phones. With the flick of a finger, we are caught in an endless stream of new videos. Behind the profiles, a majority of young people and minors, who sometimes become addicted to the application to the detriment of their sleep and their mental health. To counter these abuses, a specialized center opened its doors in Switzerland at the beginning of the year.
A response to strong demand
The Meiringen private clinic, specializing in psychiatric care, has opened a new site in Thun, according to Swiss media Blick. The establishment is dedicated to the fight against TikTok addiction, and welcomes patients aged 18 to 25.
Thanks to its algorithm, TikTok is able to target the preferences of its users, even if it means drastically increasing their screen time. This is why there are many requests to enter the Thun clinic: after four weeks of opening, the 30 rooms provided in the department were already all full. You now have to wait several weeks to obtain a place in the clinic.
The impact of TikTok on young people is increasingly being questioned. In February, the European Commission opened a procedure against the social network, in order to assess whether it infringes the legislation on digital services, in particular on the protection of minors. An investigation had already been opened last November, in order to verify the effectiveness of the measures taken to protect minor users and in particular their “physical and mental health”.