“Higher levels of dopamine release” is a nonsense metric. To the extent that it matters, it matters due to its ability to steer decision-making, and TikTok here is saying they know their product distorts decision-making in exactly the problematic manner.
The particular mixture of hormone signals yielding those behaviors is a red herring.
Then the correct answer to the parent comment's request for evidence to the claims of higher levels of dopamine release is "no, there isn't any, and it is likely a fabricated claim" and not "here is something completely different that I am falsely going to claim is evidence to the question you asked."
In this case the poison is in the dose. Sex also releases a cascade of neurochemicals, but I challenge you to have more sex in a day than you can watch videos on TikTok in two hours. You can essentially hold down the button in the Skinner Box.
You can use Google just like I can. You’re not asking because of curiosity, you’re asking because you’re hoping you won’t have to think.
The lawsuit cites one group within the company, called “TikTank,” which noted in an internal report that compulsive usage was “rampant” on the platform. It also quotes an unnamed executive who said kids watch TikTok because the algorithm is “really good.”
“But I think we need to be cognizant of what it might mean for other opportunities. And when I say other opportunities, I literally mean sleep, and eating, and moving around the room, and looking at somebody in the eyes,” the unnamed executive said, according to the complaint.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/tiktok-aware-risks-kids-...
Straight from the horse’s mouth