TikTok Admits Addictive Design - Summary of the Internet – August 22, 2025

TikTok’s own employees just admitted it’s built like a slot machine. Jackpot or meltdown?

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Today in Summary of the Internet:

Social media is starting to feel like a giant experiment where we’re the lab rats and the cheese is infinite dopamine. Meanwhile, a storm is swallowing the East Coast, and golden retriever boyfriends are raising the bar for men everywhere. Balance that chaos however you like.

👀 Curated by humans. Boosted by bots. Delivered with flavor.

✅  Top 3 Must-Post Trends

1. TikTok Employees Speak Out on App’s Addiction Design

Hey! That’s my crackpipe!

What Happened:
Newly unsealed court evidence from a North Carolina lawsuit revealed TikTok employees admitting that the platform is engineered for “compulsive use” and “not good for mental health.” Internal videos show staff acknowledging that popular content isn’t always healthy but is designed to keep people scrolling. This confirmation lands just weeks before TikTok’s September 17 divest-or-ban deadline in the U.S.

The revelations fuel lawsuits from more than a dozen states accusing TikTok of misleading families about its safety. While TikTok argues the videos are “taken out of context,” the damage is already viral—amplified by politicians and creators worried about digital well-being. With Trump having already extended the ban deadline three times, the countdown is turning into a political showdown with cultural stakes.

🎯 Why this is a post opportunity:

  • Relatable to every user who’s lost hours on the app

  • Politically charged but also meme-able

  • Time-sensitive with the September 17 deadline looming

✍️ Post Ideas:

  • TikTok reaction: “POV: TikTok admits they built it to be addictive.”

  • Instagram carousel: “5 Signs You’re Addicted to TikTok (By Their Own Employees).”

  • Twitter/X thread: Screenshot shocking quotes with your take.

📣 CTA: “Comment if TikTok has ever stolen hours of your life 👇”

2. Hurricane Erin Hammers the East Coast

Ugh.. It’s heading this way.

What Happened:
Hurricane Erin, a sprawling Category 2 storm spanning 700+ miles, is battering the U.S. East Coast with deadly surf, flooding, and wind. The storm briefly hit Category 5 strength last week before weakening, but its sheer size is causing chaos from Florida to Maine. At least 10 lives have been lost across its path, including in Cape Verde and the Dominican Republic, and states of emergency are in place across the region.

Swimming bans and evacuation orders have gone into effect. New Jersey’s coast is shut down, and waves up to 20 feet are forecast in New England. Social media is flooded with dramatic footage: cars submerged in water, massive storm surges crashing over sea walls, and rooftop rescues. Erin is already being compared to historic Atlantic hurricanes in terms of geographic reach.

🎯 Why this is a post opportunity:

  • Real-time safety concern that millions are following

  • Highly visual content: storm clips, radar maps, prep tips

  • Engagement spikes as people share locations and updates

✍️ Post Ideas:

  • TikTok: “Hurricane prep in 60 seconds – here’s my setup.”

  • Instagram Stories: Share storm maps with safety tips.

  • Twitter/X: Real-time thread of storm updates.

📣 CTA: “Stay safe, East Coasters! Drop your location 🌊”

3. Woman’s “Golden Retriever Boyfriend” Goes Viral

That’s a good boy!

What Happened:
Ella Swanberg’s TikTok montage of her boyfriend Spencer Canny waving at her car every single morning for nearly a year has racked up 450K+ views and 125K likes. Rain or shine, coffee in hand, he faithfully waves as she drives off to work. He even blocks his calendar to make sure he never misses it.

The internet has dubbed him the ultimate “golden retriever boyfriend”—a term for partners who are loyal, joyful, and affectionate. The video has ignited a cultural moment where people are sharing their own “green flag” stories, sparking debates about love, daily rituals, and raising relationship standards in the age of ghosting.

🎯 Why this is a post opportunity:

  • Wholesome content that resonates emotionally

  • Universally shareable across niches

  • Easy to spin into memes or commentary about relationships

✍️ Post Ideas:

  • TikTok: Reaction—“This is what golden retriever energy looks like.”

  • Instagram: Carousel—“7 Green Flags That Show You’ve Found a Golden Retriever Partner.”

  • Twitter/X: “He blocks his calendar daily to wave at her. The bar is low but at least someone’s raising it.”

📣 CTA: “What’s the sweetest thing your partner does? 💛”

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  • Israel Begins Gaza City Offensive
    Israel has mobilized 60,000 reservists for “Operation Gideon’s Chariots B” in Gaza City, ordering nearly a million Palestinians to evacuate south. Critics warn of a humanitarian disaster, while the UN pushes for an immediate ceasefire.
    💡 Post Idea: “Explainer: What Israel’s Gaza City offensive means right now.”
    🗣️ CTA: “Respectful thoughts only: How should the world respond?”

  • Jacob Elordi & Olivia Jade Split
    After four years of an on-and-off relationship, Euphoria star Jacob Elordi and influencer Olivia Jade Giannulli have called it quits, citing distance and career demands. The breakup appears amicable, but social media is buzzing about long-distance challenges.
    💡 Post Idea: “When career vs. love collides: Which would you pick?”
    🗣️ CTA: “Team career or team love? 💔”

  • Golden Retriever Wake-Up Call Goes Viral
    Charlie Mae, a golden Labrador, has gone viral for her 6 AM wake-up ritual—jumping on the bed and showering her owner with kisses. The clip has 95M views, with viewers praising dogs as better than alarm clocks.
    💡 Post Idea: “Show me your pet’s morning routine vs. Charlie Mae’s.”
    🗣️ CTA: “Drop your pet’s wake-up style 🐶”

  • Be An Angel Day
    Every August 22, #BeAnAngelDay trends as people share random acts of kindness. Started in 1993, it’s now a secular celebration of simple good deeds, from buying a stranger coffee to donating clothes.
    💡 Post Idea: “5 easy ways to be someone’s angel today.”
    🗣️ CTA: “Tag the angel in your life 👼”

  • Katy Perry & Orlando Bloom Split
    After nine years together, Perry and Bloom announced their split, focusing on co-parenting their daughter Daisy. Sources cite career strain and Perry’s struggling tour as factors.
    💡 Post Idea: “Healthy celebrity breakup examples vs. messy ones.”
    🗣️ CTA: “Is co-parenting the ultimate ‘mature breakup’ move?”

  • Apple iPhone 17 Hype
    Leaks suggest Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 on Sept 9, featuring an ultra-thin “iPhone Air,” cross-back camera bump, and new copper colorway. The internet is debating whether it’s worth the upgrade.
    💡 Post Idea: “Ranking iPhone 17 leaks from ‘meh’ to ‘take my money.’”
    🗣️ CTA: “Are you upgrading or sitting this round out?”

  • Night Sky Protection Movement
    The “Dark Sky” movement is trending as more people push to reduce light pollution. Viral posts show stunning starry skies from low-light areas, sparking eco-conscious discussion.
    💡 Post Idea: “POV: Seeing the Milky Way without light pollution.”
    🗣️ CTA: “When’s the last time you saw real stars?”

  • #BeAnAngelDay – wholesome, easy to hijack with kindness posts

  • #HurricaneErin – safety + dramatic footage

  • #TikTokLawsuit – ties into addiction revelations

  • #GoldenRetrieverBoyfriend – relationship green flag content

  • #iPhone17 – upcoming Apple launch hype

  • #DarkSky – eco + aesthetic posting opportunity

💡 Engagement Tip of the Day
Authenticity beats polish today. With Hurricane Erin updates and TikTok’s legal drama breaking, fast, scrappy posts will outperform high-production content.

🔮 Looking Ahead

  • Hurricane Erin cleanup content will dominate the weekend.

  • Apple iPhone 17 event on Sept 9 – prepare hot takes.

  • Be An Angel Day momentum will carry through Aug 23–25 for kindness-themed posts.

See you tomorrow!