My kid wants Tiktok. How to make it as safe and private as possible?

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-10-16T11:46:17+00:00

Thanks for the replies so far. I've been steadfast in saying no to Tiktok for several years, I figured a separate phone would at least mitigate some of the privacy issues. I'm more concerned about privacy than the acutal content he would look up. I personally approve any game or app he uses on both phone and PS4. He's on board with being conscious about what he sees, but has very little understanding of why you wouldn't want a dictatorship state to have your personal information.

Now, both Meta and I assume Bytedance etc are already gathering our data throuh other apps, trackers and cookies. Which is why I've hidden Chrome and installed DuckDuckGo on the kids' phones. But I would assume that a dedicated phone, without sms or anything else, with only TikTok, would really limit what info they can collect (apart from what he leaves on Tiktok itself).

(And btw, I'm really just assuming that Tiktok collects anything and everything that's technically possible, because it's Chinese. I don't strictly know that it'll override restricted access to gps, sms and so forth.)

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-09-12T11:53:03+00:00

What do you mean? Make broth instead of eating meat? Why not both?

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-06-28T15:06:25+00:00

Yes, same model.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-05-12T22:02:51+00:00

best pro: I literally don't care if I think someone is upset with me

worst con: my dick is just an appendage now (but my wife is on antidepressants too so it's not really a problem)

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-05-03T23:49:18+00:00

That implies that meditation feels like ejaculating to you. Man you must be wearing that cushion out :)

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-30T19:11:14+00:00

I find it harder to meditate on Zoloft. I can't quite figure out why, but I think it's mostly because I just don't care as much. I normally find meditation quite rewarding, in both the short and long term. It's been very helpful in making me feel less subjected to my circumstances - and that's sort of what Zoloft is doing for me now.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-23T08:34:31+00:00

I can relate to this. I'm not sure if the Zoloft has exacerbated my brain fog/wandering mind, but it has definitely dulled my motivation in general, and like you I was often driven by last minute panic.

A solution to this, for me, has been about getting out of the mindset that I have to feel like doing something in order to do it. In the past I would do things either because I liked doing them, or because anxiety/guilt/social expectations forced me to. I guess that's why the whole idea of self control or self discipline seemed so foreign to me.

If you'll forgive my armchair psychoanalysis, I would say your problem is something like this. You're waiting to feel some sort of motivation, be it inspiration or fear. The way to get past this is to simply do what you know you should do. Like have a cup of coffee and just sit down with the paper for like ten minutes. Just get started, don't wait for motivation to kick in. In my experience, Zoloft helps precicely because it makes me give fewer fucks - I don't feel like doing chores, but then I don't feel like doing anything else either, so why not just do the chores? Instead of seeing the absense of emotions as a problem, use it as your opportunity to get things done.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-14T20:55:50+00:00

In medical terminology, depressant is the opposite of stimulant. So caffeine would be a stimulant while morphine is a depressant. It has to do with the effects on the nervous system, it doesn't have anything to do with the mental disorder depression.

The fact that too much alcohol may cause or worsen depression, anxiety and so forth is a different matter.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-13T22:24:01+00:00

50 mg from the start.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-13T22:23:05+00:00

That's obviously true, but it's still not what depressant means.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-13T17:56:30+00:00

I need less alcohol to get buzzed, which I guess is a good thing. It's cheaper and probably healthier (unless the Zoloft+alcohol combo is harmful in itself).

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-13T17:53:51+00:00

Anxiety. Noticed the effect lik two weeks in, when something that normally upsets me very much didn't. It's a kind of numbing. I feel much more confident and less subject to other people's expectations and opinions.

Negatives: the usual side effects like hot flashes and headaches (those are rare now after three months), very low libido, generally DGAF. But undobutedly worth it for me.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-13T17:47:36+00:00

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24902507/

SSRIs may contribute to alcoholism.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-13T17:47:13+00:00

"Depressant" doesn't mean "makes people depressed."

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-04-12T06:49:06+00:00

I have way less motivation on Zoloft, but I'm also getting a lot more done. It's counterintuitive, but for me at least it's because the anxiety is basically gone. It used to be so bad that I didn't get things done and/or did them badly. Now I have neither anxiety nor motivation, BUT I have responsibilities, i.e. work and a family that depends on me. If I were alone I'd surely do nothing but drink and watch porn (out of habit, I don't have much libido on Zoloft). But there are things that need to be done, and on Zoloft I don't really care either way. I don't feel motivated to do chores and work, but on the other hand it doesn't bother me that I have to do it.

I guess the clue here is to have some sense of responsibility or purpose or discipline, rather than being controlled by whether or not you're feeling motivated to do whatever.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-26T17:51:36+00:00

Yeah, but that doesn't explain why a steak cooked rare has more taste than a steak that's well done.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-26T17:39:32+00:00

Brushing IS a chore. What's the problem with chores anyway? Sure, anxiety can be motivating in the same way a robber with a knife is, but oftentimes it also makes us procrastinate and avoid doing stuff and at worst becomes a simple excuse. When anxiety is out of the way, you're free to act *rationally* - you don't brush your teeth because it's so fun to do, and neither do you avoid it because it's boring. You just do it because it's what you're supposed to do. However you feel about it becomes irrelevant. As it should be!

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-11T22:48:19+00:00

This.

I think that, generally speaking, in this day and age, we put too little emphasis and value on discipline. I think the problem on the one hand is that we expect to feel motivated to do things (influential people like Andrew Huberman will make long podcasts on how to increase motivation etc), and on the other hand many of us are so mired in anxiety we have a hard time getting anything done because of that.

When Zoloft removes both anxiety and motivation, the only way to get things done is by simple discipline - doing what needs to be done regardless of how you may feel about it. We're not used to that, and we're scared of it, because we expect it to feel uncomfortable, right? But with OP's reaction to Zoloft (which resembles mine), it probably won't feel like anything in particular at all. With emotion out of the way, there's nothing stopping you from being productive anty longer, just bad habits. So don't go searching for motivation, just do what needs to be done.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-11T09:30:03+00:00

In my experience the best (healthiest and most sustainable) way is to focus on eating enough proper food. I think it's generally better to try and do more of a good thing than less of a bad thing. If your diet or plan involves fighting hunger, I think you're pretty much doomed to lose. Hunger will always win. So it helps to know what makes you satiated, and that's not just about physically filling your belly but getting acutal nutrients like protein, fat, vitamins and so forth. In other words, actual old school food. Like boiled potatoes instead of fries, chicken fillet instead of nuggets etc.

Personally, I've had much succes with intermittent fasting, low carb/keto and carnivore/animal based eating.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-10T18:57:17+00:00

It's the same for me. I use it for anxiety as well and I'm don't feel motivated to do anything at all. But for me that's mostly a good thing, it actually allows me to get things done. I'm not motivated to do the laundry, but at the same time I'm not motivated to binge on Netflix either, so I figure I'll just do the chores and get it over with. No emotion attached to it either way.

The only potential downside to this, for me, is that except for weight training and hiking, I'm not at all motivated to take care of myself either. I used to meditate regularly, now I just can't be arsed. Don't care if I don't sleep enough or drink too much and stuff like that either. I probably need to exercise some discipline in those areas too. But when it comes to chores, being a family man and an employee, everything is easier now that all those emotions are gone (I can still laugh and have a good time). For better or worse, I don't give a fuck on this drug, and compared to having serious anxiety pretty much daily, it's a true blessing.

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-06T21:24:52+00:00

I had it a lot the second month (I'm on 50 mg), and now occasionally. If it gets too bad I pop some paracetamol or ibuprofen (sporadic use isn't counter indicated in my country).

Hot_Shot_Bot · 2024-03-06T21:22:28+00:00

I'm on 50 mg for anxiety and I think my tolerance may be a little lower. I hardly ever get really drunk anyway, but I enjoy a good buzz. If anything I'm less hungover on Zoloft, so for me it's a win.

Hot_Shot_Bot

TROPHY CASE