While you aren't using the words "algorithm" or "social", another perspective to see is that the "medium" is not just video. It is a specific type of short, repeatable, and trivialized pieces of video content. Created by mostly individual creators in niche social networks that convey extreme feelings of pain and pleasure in an infinite feed.

TikTok is addictive in every category. People are addicted to it just like people are addicted to other mediums like books, radio, and tv. Creators are also addicted to creating for it manipulated by incentives and sponsorship opportunities. It is a borderline technological narcotic.

To be human is to be addicted to something. We are addicted to the many "wants" in our lives being sold through these 15s-3 minute videos.

> You may as well write a blog post saying "TV is addictive and it's dying because of commercials"

When the going gets tough, the tough goes shopping.

There's actually a few books on this! i.e. consumerism and advertising

Four arguments for the elimination of television by Jerry Mander

Amusing ourselves to death by Neil Postman

The shallows by Nicolas Carr

And the classic, brave new world by Aldous Huxley