The Power of a 10-Second Video by Shuxuan Chang

 The Power of a 10-Second Video by Shuxuan Chang

        Whenever I feel bored, TikTok is the very first thing that comes to mind. The moment I open the app, I find myself unable to stop scrolling; and as I scroll, I inevitably stumble upon products I’ve never seen before—with influencers making them look like the best thing ever. In that instant, I suddenly feel as though I absolutely need them.

       When teenagers are scrolling through videos, it is remarkably easy for them to get "sold" on a product. Once we show interest in something, the algorithm keeps showing it to us again and again. It’s actually quite strange: the more we watch, the more convinced we become that the product is absolutely fantastic—to the point where we start feeling that all our friends must surely own it, simply because it seems so popular. A simple want slowly starts to feel like a need.—a psychological shift I didn't even realize was taking place.

     TikTok often shows products that promise to make our lives easier or better. Once we see just how effective they actually are, we simply can't resist buying them. I know, deep down, that I don't actually need those things; yet, I still find myself viewing those products through rose-colored glasses—thinking that perhaps they really are as miraculous as they appear in the videos. After all, I’ve seen so many well-known influencers recommending them.

     Maybe what social media shows us is not what we want—it turns our wants into needs.