INTERNET DATA SOURCE (STATISTICS)
• Statista Research Department. “Share of Teenagers in the U.S. Who Believe TikTok Shortens Attention Spans as of April 2022.” Statista, 2022, www.statista.com/statistics/1404698/tiktok-attention-span-teenagers-usa/.
This data source shows that 60% of teen TikTok users believe it worsens their ability to focus. It directly supports the thesis by offering concrete, statistically grounded evidence of attention issues. Statista is a trusted, academically cited aggregator with sourced survey data.
REFERENCE DATABASE / ENCYCLOPEDIA ARTICLE
• “Digital Distractions and the Modern Mind.” Credo Reference, 2023, Credo Reference.
This article gives an overview of how short-form video contributes to attention loss and digital multitasking. It’s reliable background info from a vetted academic database that outlines core concepts like cognitive stamina and distraction.
REFERENCE DATABASE / POINTS OF VIEW ARTICLE
• “Social Media and Mental Health: The TikTok Debate.” Points of View Reference Center, EBSCOhost, 2022, EBSCOhost Example Link.
This article presents arguments for and against TikTok’s mental health impact. It’s useful because it offers a balanced perspective on the debate and contextualizes both risks (like anxiety) and benefits (like creative outlets), helping frame the research question on psychological effects.
ENCYCLOPEDIA / GENERAL SOURCE
• Wikipedia contributors. “TikTok Controversies.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TikTok_controversies.
Though not scholarly, this source gives a broad overview of ongoing concerns and introduces terms like “doomscrolling” and “instant gratification.” It’s a useful launchpad for identifying vocabulary and subtopics to explore more deeply in academic databases.
LIBRARY EBOOK (ONESearch)
• Alter, Adam. Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked. Penguin Press, 2017.
This book explains the psychology behind app addiction, especially persuasive design and dopamine loops. It’s relevant because it helps break down how TikTok is engineered to be addictive, connecting directly to attention span research.
LIBRARY STREAMING VIDEO (ONESearch - Films on Demand)
• TikTok: The Power of Short-Form Video. Directed by BBC Studios, BBC, 2022. Films on Demand.
This video shows expert interviews on TikTok’s algorithm, its effects on focus, and teen usage habits. It’s authoritative and credible, with visuals that enhance understanding of behavioral science topics.
NEWS ORGANIZATION / SUBSTANTIVE ARTICLE
• Browning, Kellen. “TikTok’s Algorithm Keeps Pushing Suicide to Vulnerable Kids.” The New York Times, 21 June 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/21/technology/tiktok-suicide-algorithm-teenagers.html.
This article explores the psychological risks of algorithm-driven feeds, specifically on young people. It shows the dangerous feedback loop of TikTok content and supports the argument that its algorithm contributes to emotional and attention problems.
NEWS ORGANIZATION / SUBSTANTIVE ARTICLE
• Lorenz, Taylor. “TikTok Is Rewriting the World.” The New York Times, 10 Mar. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/10/style/what-is-tik-tok.html.
This feature explains TikTok’s core mechanics and how its design creates unique user behavior. It supports the background section of your research by showing how the app differs from predecessors and how that difference affects user cognition.
LIBRARY BOOK (PRINT)
• Doyle, Robert P. Banned Books: Challenging Our Freedom to Read. American Library Association, 2014.
Though not directly related to TikTok, this book was used in class assignments to explore censorship. It shows broader debates about digital and media consumption and may connect to concerns about content control on platforms like TikTok.
TikTok
Short-form video
Attention span
Digital distraction
Media consumption
Social media addiction
Cognitive overload
Mental health
Dopamine loop
Digital wellbeing
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