Woman experienced hallucinations after heavy TikTok and Reel use

A 40 year old government employee reportedly experienced hallucinations after engaging heavily on social media platforms TikTok and Reel. This peculiar case was shared by Surat Tanprawate, a neurology specialist, on his Facebook page Brain with Dr Surat.

The woman, who was previously consulting for neurodegenerative diseases, started seeing hallucinations after interacting with content on TikTok and Reel for four months. She posted content daily, liking and sharing various videos. This online activity brought her immense happiness, so much so, that she lost touch with reality.

Five days ago, she began to hear voices directing her on how to make videos. She started seeing people who were not there and even saw a man dressed in black following her. These hallucinations led her family to admit her to a hospital.

This was not the first case, another patient, an elderly woman, was also admitted to the hospital last month after getting lost in the world of TikTok, unable to differentiate between the virtual and real world.

A study conducted by Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence suggests that the design of such social media feeds is meant to hook the brain by stimulating the release of dopamine, much like drug addiction.

One theory suggests that prolonged exposure to these platforms leads to a surge in dopamine, which could cause hallucinations. While general users are unlikely to be affected, those with underlying mental health problems could easily manifest symptoms.

Another theory points to the abundance of strange and eerie video content that could induce hallucinatory experiences, reported Sanook.

The algorithm of these platforms, designed to feed users with content similar to what they watch, can create an alternative reality for those who enjoy watching bizarre or eerie content. On the flip side, individuals with mental health disorders might use these platforms as they might be hesitant to socialise in the real world.

Dr Surat advises monitoring the social media habits of young children, elderly family members, or anyone who might confuse social media with reality or start hallucinating after viewing content. If any such symptoms are noticed, he recommends a consultation with a psychiatrist.

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