Smartphones and social media platforms have built themselves into our daily lives in the age of digital connection.  While there are many advantages to these technological developments, they have also led to new difficulties, particularly in educational contexts. TikTok has become one of the most popular platforms for capturing students’ attention, drawing them into a world of distraction during class time. 

Over the past few years, TikTok, a short-form video-sharing software, has been extremely popular, especially among the younger population, which includes Prairie High School. The network became popular right away thanks to its huge collection of user-generated content, which ranges in length from a few seconds to minutes. Students find it challenging to resist the urge to scroll continuously thanks to TikTok’s algorithm, which is customized to each user’s interests and offers a steady stream of movies.

The growing number of distractions is brought on by TikTok’s increasing popularity in classrooms, which makes it difficult for students to learn. Approximately 70% of Prairie High School’s students utilize TikTok. It offers brief entertainment and a break from the pressures of homework and lectures. The students say it is addictive. Many people are struggling to concentrate more and more, frequently falling into the attraction of TikTok during class time and neglecting their current lecture.

TikTok provides amusement and a sense of community, but its presence in the classroom has raised serious concerns among parents and educators. It is essential to create a balance between the advantages of technology and the maintenance of effective learning environments as we advance through the digital age. Teachers must come up with creative strategies to hold students’ attention while also teaching them how to safely manage their screen use.