Viewing personalized video clips recommended by TikTok activates default mode network and ventral tegmental area
Neuroimage May 2, 2021 Conghui Su, Hui Zhou, Liang Gong et al.
Personalized video recommendations on platforms like TikTok can trigger addiction-like behaviors in some users. A survey and fMRI study of young adults found that more undesired symptoms—such as difficulty controlling use—correlated with lower self-control, and about 5.9% of users showed significant problematic use. Brain scans revealed that viewing personalized (vs. non-personalized) videos increased activity in the default mode network, ventral tegmental area, and regions involved in attention and sensory processing. Stronger connections between these brain areas and visual/auditory pathways suggest how recommendation algorithms may keep users engaged by tapping into neural systems for self-relevance and reward.