I'm not seeing the connection between the Google/Apple duopoly and the rise of TikTok or other addictive social media. I spend half or more of my waking hours on one Apple device or another, and if I had only things Apple has pushed at me to go by, I'd not even know TikTok exists. What's the sequence of events you expect from removing Google and Apple's platform power, that'll lead to reduced social media activity on their platforms and/or in general? Apple, for their part, seem to have spent a fair amount of effort developing features that exist only to curb addiction-like smartphone use—I'm not sure why they'd have done that if they were that focused on getting you to use your phone as much as possible.
Now, if we were talking about whale-chasing F2P games, I'd see your point, but I don't see the connection with social media.
I was just having a chat with my buddy today about how Apple, Microsoft and to a large extent Google are largely the best positioned to profit from any upstream applications. While the likes of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok fight for viewership, these underlying platforms are just counting profits regardless of who reigns supreme on the top. I don't know if Jobs saw this future unfold but here it is.
The gas stations of the digital era are just doing their job, ensuring that there is enough gas supply. What's ironic is that the biggest gas company also created the first automobiles, and basically told the market, everyone is welcome to build an automobile to use my gas as long as you give me 30% of your profits. Oh BTW, your automobile can run only using my gas. Boy, imagine this in the physical world.
I think, ultimately, the only solution will be stripping platform owners of their power. Google and Apple have both undeniably abused their market position to promote harmful content and shelter the problems that TikTok causes. We'll either die in the shackles of our own corporations, or live long enough to watch them topple over.