Disclaimer: I'm still not recommending anyone to start using Tiktok due to alleged privacy concerns.
There is something different in Tiktok and the oriental social media landscape in general. Where western platforms seem to cause negative addiction, anxiety and polarisation the Chinese counterparts seem to be spreading more positivity.
While Tiktok isn't devoid of hate speech, questionable content and agitation of radical opinions it doesn't have anything new on this front compared to the other major platforms. Instead of making people crave for attention it's more about sharing the joy.
It can be as addictive as the slot machine economy of Facebook and likes. Maybe even more. But if it can affect people positively it can't be that bad. At least it's a proof that such model can work too.
Apart from the cultural difference this can also be a result of the different incentive behind the platforms. One is made to make as much money as possible by keeping the user as engaged as possible while the other is aiming to collect as much information from it's subjects as possible.
If only there could be a third option, third incentive to build these platforms that wouldn't be so invasive. Unfortunately without such I don't see any free platform gaining enough traction to become mainstream safe media for all to enjoy and spread the joy.