I have no idea, my "friends" (only reason it's in quotation marks is because we don't talk very much, there's no drama) use tiktok a lot and treat it almost like it's the second coming of christ (I'm exaggerating a little) in the way that they get pretty upset if i criticize the app.
From what I've seen as someone who hasn't used tiktok in 3 years is, it's mostly sad vent videos made to be funny, kids see that, find it validating, and it becomes an affirmation and they get more sad and their attention span dies but I use instagram reels a lot so I can't really talk much. I'm just more cautious about what I feed my mind.
But anyway yeah I don't understand the appeal, I guess people are just getting more closed off if that makes sense ??