How do you fix “the TikTok brain”?
The “TikTok brain” is pretty much everybody these days. The attention economy made sure of that. But an information diet alone is not enough to cope with an immediate gratification/dopamine addiction.
Indeed, do manage your sources/exposure to inflammatory content.
But keep in mind that your immunity to info harms relies on mind training.
It requires both:
- Monitoring and managing your reactions (situational mindfulness)
- Removing vulnerabilities (preventive reframing)
Step 1. Monitoring and managing your reactions (situational mindfulness)
Put your introspection guard on alert — protect your vulnerabilities.
Clickbait and aggressive content may trigger unhealthy reactions. If unnoticed, they will permeate your mind, increase biases, and provoke destructive reactions.
If you register a mood change, emotional background, rumination — it is best to manage the unwanted reaction, consider its impact, and learn from the experience.
Step 2. Removing vulnerabilities (preventive reframing)
Emotional Hygiene and regular triggers removal (via self-reflection, objective reframing and other practices) is your shield against harmful exposure. It also increases your ability to recognize fake news, lies, and manipulations. A balanced mind with no buttons to push ensures manipulation-proof perception. This is how you preserve clarity, critical reasoning and free will.
