TikTok overuse links social anxiety to everyday memory and attention lapses
Mar 1st 2026
A survey of 720 TikTok users found that fear of missing out predicts everyday cognitive errors through addictive TikTok habits, but the cross-sectional, self-report study cannot prove causation and calls for longitudinal and objective follow-up research.
- Study of 720 adult TikTok users (average age 38) found higher fear of missing out was associated with more everyday cognitive failures.
- Excessive TikTok use acted as a mediator between FoMO and routine memory and attention lapses.
- Trait FoMO showed a stronger association with TikTok addiction tendencies than state FoMO in this sample.
- Researchers suggest TikTok’s endless short video feed and recommendation algorithm may tap deeper, stable anxieties.
- The study is cross-sectional, so it cannot establish cause and effect between anxiety, app use, and cognitive lapses.
- All measures were self-reported, which could bias estimates of app use and everyday failures.
- Authors recommend longitudinal designs and objective smartphone tracking to clarify directionality and strengthen evidence.