ThinkTok - Stem meets TikTok

Ever catch yourself doom-scrolling, wondering where the time went? ThinkTok flips the script. This redesigned STEM mode adds moments of curiosity and challenge between videos so every swipe feels a little more intentional.

I used Figma for all the designs, and created the prototype in Origami Studio 3.

ThinkTok - Stem meets TikTok

Ever catch yourself doom-scrolling, wondering where the time went? ThinkTok flips the script. This redesigned STEM mode adds moments of curiosity and challenge between videos so every swipe feels a little more intentional.

I used Figma for all the designs, and created the prototype in Origami Studio 3.

ThinkTok - Stem meets TikTok

Ever catch yourself doom-scrolling, wondering where the time went? ThinkTok flips the script. This redesigned STEM mode adds moments of curiosity and challenge between videos so every swipe feels a little more intentional.

I used Figma for all the designs, and created the prototype in Origami Studio 3.

The TikTok paradox

I have such a love-hate relationship with TikTok, and honestly, I never know how to feel about it. From the moment I downloaded the app, I was hooked. I discovered hidden gems, found a meme for every situation imaginable, and was constantly inspired and surprised. I even made a few TikTok's myself, though that's a story for another time.

It’s an incredible app, and I’ve spent hours on it. Wait… how many hours have I actually spent on this app? Probably a lot. But I’ve had fun, right? I remember laughing at that one dog video, it was hilarious! But what else do I remember? Anything? Hmm… nope. That’s… kind of weird.

The TikTok paradox

I have such a love-hate relationship with TikTok, and honestly, I never know how to feel about it. From the moment I downloaded the app, I was hooked. I discovered hidden gems, found a meme for every situation imaginable, and was constantly inspired and surprised. I even made a few TikTok's myself, though that's a story for another time.

It’s an incredible app, and I’ve spent hours on it. Wait… how many hours have I actually spent on this app? Probably a lot. But I’ve had fun, right? I remember laughing at that one dog video, it was hilarious! But what else do I remember? Anything? Hmm… nope. That’s… kind of weird.

The TikTok paradox

I have such a love-hate relationship with TikTok, and honestly, I never know how to feel about it. From the moment I downloaded the app, I was hooked. I discovered hidden gems, found a meme for every situation imaginable, and was constantly inspired and surprised. I even made a few TikTok's myself, though that's a story for another time.

It’s an incredible app, and I’ve spent hours on it. Wait… how many hours have I actually spent on this app? Probably a lot. But I’ve had fun, right? I remember laughing at that one dog video, it was hilarious! But what else do I remember? Anything? Hmm… nope. That’s… kind of weird.

Why We Can’t Look Away

So fun aside, I think what makes TikTok so unique, as many people will point out, is its combination of short-form videos and its powerful For You page. The short video format caters to our evolving consumption habits, especially as research suggests our attention spans are shrinking in digital environments. The emphasis on fast, mobile-first content fits seamlessly into the pace of modern life. We want entertainment quickly, and TikTok delivers.

Shorter videos also have an emotional advantage. Because they’re brief, users can quickly feel a connection, whether that’s laughter, nostalgia, or curiosity, all in a matter of seconds.

But the real engine behind TikTok’s grip on us is its For You algorithm. It curates content based on our interactions, crafting a feed that feels incredibly personal. In many ways, it becomes a mirror, reflecting our interests, humor, and cultural affiliations back at us. TikTok isn’t just engaging because it’s social; it’s engaging because we’re constantly interacting with curated versions of ourselves.

Why We Can’t Look Away

So fun aside, I think what makes TikTok so unique, as many people will point out, is its combination of short-form videos and its powerful For You page. The short video format caters to our evolving consumption habits, especially as research suggests our attention spans are shrinking in digital environments. The emphasis on fast, mobile-first content fits seamlessly into the pace of modern life. We want entertainment quickly, and TikTok delivers.

Shorter videos also have an emotional advantage. Because they’re brief, users can quickly feel a connection, whether that’s laughter, nostalgia, or curiosity, all in a matter of seconds.

But the real engine behind TikTok’s grip on us is its For You algorithm. It curates content based on our interactions, crafting a feed that feels incredibly personal. In many ways, it becomes a mirror, reflecting our interests, humor, and cultural affiliations back at us. TikTok isn’t just engaging because it’s social; it’s engaging because we’re constantly interacting with curated versions of ourselves.

Why We Can’t Look Away

So fun aside, I think what makes TikTok so unique, as many people will point out, is its combination of short-form videos and its powerful For You page. The short video format caters to our evolving consumption habits, especially as research suggests our attention spans are shrinking in digital environments. The emphasis on fast, mobile-first content fits seamlessly into the pace of modern life. We want entertainment quickly, and TikTok delivers.

Shorter videos also have an emotional advantage. Because they’re brief, users can quickly feel a connection, whether that’s laughter, nostalgia, or curiosity, all in a matter of seconds.

But the real engine behind TikTok’s grip on us is its For You algorithm. It curates content based on our interactions, crafting a feed that feels incredibly personal. In many ways, it becomes a mirror, reflecting our interests, humor, and cultural affiliations back at us. TikTok isn’t just engaging because it’s social; it’s engaging because we’re constantly interacting with curated versions of ourselves.

The Price of Personalization

TikTok provides a highly personalized experience, tailoring content specifically to each user’s interests and behaviors. While this customization can feel engaging and even comforting, it also encourages compulsive consumption. Like many forms of social media, excessive use can lead to a range of negative cognitive and emotional effects. Overconsumption has been linked to diminished analytical thinking, weakened memory formation, reduced capacity for contextual reasoning, and decreased empathy. In addition, constant stimulation from algorithm-driven content can contribute to heightened anxiety, restlessness, and digital fatigue.

These impacts aren’t unique to TikTok, they're symptoms of a broader issue seen across platforms that rely on addictive design patterns.

The Price of Personalization

TikTok provides a highly personalized experience, tailoring content specifically to each user’s interests and behaviors. While this customization can feel engaging and even comforting, it also encourages compulsive consumption. Like many forms of social media, excessive use can lead to a range of negative cognitive and emotional effects. Overconsumption has been linked to diminished analytical thinking, weakened memory formation, reduced capacity for contextual reasoning, and decreased empathy. In addition, constant stimulation from algorithm-driven content can contribute to heightened anxiety, restlessness, and digital fatigue.

These impacts aren’t unique to TikTok, they're symptoms of a broader issue seen across platforms that rely on addictive design patterns.

The Price of Personalization

TikTok provides a highly personalized experience, tailoring content specifically to each user’s interests and behaviors. While this customization can feel engaging and even comforting, it also encourages compulsive consumption. Like many forms of social media, excessive use can lead to a range of negative cognitive and emotional effects. Overconsumption has been linked to diminished analytical thinking, weakened memory formation, reduced capacity for contextual reasoning, and decreased empathy. In addition, constant stimulation from algorithm-driven content can contribute to heightened anxiety, restlessness, and digital fatigue.

These impacts aren’t unique to TikTok, they're symptoms of a broader issue seen across platforms that rely on addictive design patterns.

Can You Really Log Off?

TikTok has introduced a number of features as part of a broader push for digital well-being on the platform. These include tools that let users set screen time limits, view usage metrics, take breaks after a certain amount of uninterrupted scrolling, and activate a restricted mode for parents to filter content. On top of that, both Apple and Android devices offer built-in controls that allow users to limit app usage across the board.

Can You Really Log Off?

TikTok has introduced a number of features as part of a broader push for digital well-being on the platform. These include tools that let users set screen time limits, view usage metrics, take breaks after a certain amount of uninterrupted scrolling, and activate a restricted mode for parents to filter content. On top of that, both Apple and Android devices offer built-in controls that allow users to limit app usage across the board.

Can You Really Log Off?

TikTok has introduced a number of features as part of a broader push for digital well-being on the platform. These include tools that let users set screen time limits, view usage metrics, take breaks after a certain amount of uninterrupted scrolling, and activate a restricted mode for parents to filter content. On top of that, both Apple and Android devices offer built-in controls that allow users to limit app usage across the board.

While these features technically give users more agency, they often feel surface-level and passive. The responsibility is placed on the user to self-manage their screen time, within a system specifically designed to keep them hooked. It’s a bit of a contradiction: how can anyone be expected to regulate themselves in an environment that’s constantly nudging them to stay?

TikTok is a creative platform built on creativity, humor, and originality, the very things that make it so addictive and entertaining. So when these digital well-being features pop up, they can feel a little out of place.

These features are important, no doubt. But maybe TikTok could approach this challenge the same way it approaches everything else: with creativity. There’s definitely room for more unique, fun, and very TikTok ways to support digital well-being.

While these features technically give users more agency, they often feel surface-level and passive. The responsibility is placed on the user to self-manage their screen time, within a system specifically designed to keep them hooked. It’s a bit of a contradiction: how can anyone be expected to regulate themselves in an environment that’s constantly nudging them to stay?

TikTok is a creative platform built on creativity, humor, and originality, the very things that make it so addictive and entertaining. So when these digital well-being features pop up, they can feel a little out of place.

These features are important, no doubt. But maybe TikTok could approach this challenge the same way it approaches everything else: with creativity. There’s definitely room for more unique, fun, and very TikTok ways to support digital well-being.

While these features technically give users more agency, they often feel surface-level and passive. The responsibility is placed on the user to self-manage their screen time, within a system specifically designed to keep them hooked. It’s a bit of a contradiction: how can anyone be expected to regulate themselves in an environment that’s constantly nudging them to stay?

TikTok is a creative platform built on creativity, humor, and originality, the very things that make it so addictive and entertaining. So when these digital well-being features pop up, they can feel a little out of place.

These features are important, no doubt. But maybe TikTok could approach this challenge the same way it approaches everything else: with creativity. There’s definitely room for more unique, fun, and very TikTok ways to support digital well-being.

STEM tab, A step not a solution?

TikTok’s latest initiative, aimed at highlighting STEM-related content, feels like a step in the right direction. The newly added STEM tab now sits to the far left of the For You, Following, and Explore tabs. Its goal is to feature educational videos from creators and organizations focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. In theory, it’s a great idea, creators get a dedicated space to share knowledge in creative ways, and users get an uninterrupted place to explore and learn.

STEM tab, A step not a solution?

TikTok’s latest initiative, aimed at highlighting STEM-related content, feels like a step in the right direction. The newly added STEM tab now sits to the far left of the For You, Following, and Explore tabs. Its goal is to feature educational videos from creators and organizations focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. In theory, it’s a great idea, creators get a dedicated space to share knowledge in creative ways, and users get an uninterrupted place to explore and learn.

STEM tab, A step not a solution?

TikTok’s latest initiative, aimed at highlighting STEM-related content, feels like a step in the right direction. The newly added STEM tab now sits to the far left of the For You, Following, and Explore tabs. Its goal is to feature educational videos from creators and organizations focused on science, technology, engineering, and math. In theory, it’s a great idea, creators get a dedicated space to share knowledge in creative ways, and users get an uninterrupted place to explore and learn.

I was genuinely curious to see how it worked, so I spent around 30-40 minutes exploring the STEM tab, liking videos I found interesting to help fine-tune the algorithm. My experience was mixed. A lot of the content I encountered focused on very simple math or chemistry trivia. While there were definitely some high-quality, informative videos, much of it felt surface-level and targeted at an elementary level.

One thing that stood out was the low engagement. Videos in the STEM tab had significantly fewer likes and comments compared to content on the For You page. It made me wonder how many users are actually using this feature. Not to mention, I always had the suspicion in the back of my mind about the accuracy and credibility of the content being shown to me. Misinformation can have more damaging effects if it's disguised as educational content.

I was genuinely curious to see how it worked, so I spent around 30-40 minutes exploring the STEM tab, liking videos I found interesting to help fine-tune the algorithm. My experience was mixed. A lot of the content I encountered focused on very simple math or chemistry trivia. While there were definitely some high-quality, informative videos, much of it felt surface-level and targeted at an elementary level.

One thing that stood out was the low engagement. Videos in the STEM tab had significantly fewer likes and comments compared to content on the For You page. It made me wonder how many users are actually using this feature. Not to mention, I always had the suspicion in the back of my mind about the accuracy and credibility of the content being shown to me. Misinformation can have more damaging effects if it's disguised as educational content.

I was genuinely curious to see how it worked, so I spent around 30-40 minutes exploring the STEM tab, liking videos I found interesting to help fine-tune the algorithm. My experience was mixed. A lot of the content I encountered focused on very simple math or chemistry trivia. While there were definitely some high-quality, informative videos, much of it felt surface-level and targeted at an elementary level.

One thing that stood out was the low engagement. Videos in the STEM tab had significantly fewer likes and comments compared to content on the For You page. It made me wonder how many users are actually using this feature. Not to mention, I always had the suspicion in the back of my mind about the accuracy and credibility of the content being shown to me. Misinformation can have more damaging effects if it's disguised as educational content.

On top of that, the tab itself feels somewhat hidden. Since TikTok’s navigation relies on swiping, it takes four swipes just to reach it, or alternatively, you have to stretch to the far top-left corner of the screen. Combined with the already busy interface, it feels like TikTok is intentionally sidelining this feature, tucking it away rather than giving it the attention it deserves.

That said, I do think the STEM tab represents a shift in mindset. It doesn’t fix the deeper problem of addictive scrolling, but it gestures toward something more intentional. The STEM tab is organized around learning and purpose. It feels less like passive consumption and more like a curated library, only if you can find it. It’s not the solution, but it’s a start. And maybe, in an app built on speed, carving out space for curiosity is something worth building on.

Reimagining STEM on TikTok

I love the idea of educational content on TikTok, especially when it’s presented in creative, engaging ways. There’s something powerful about making learning feel casual and fun. But at the same time, it feels like this content is working against the app’s current structure, which relies heavily on the For You page to drive user engagement. That made me wonder: how could STEM Mode be better integrated into TikTok’s ecosystem, where everything is shaped by the algorithm and quick, endless swipes?

I also started thinking about the role of the STEM tab itself. Instead of simply watching content, I wanted more control, more ways to interact with what I was learning and how I was learning it.

Reimagining STEM on TikTok

I love the idea of educational content on TikTok, especially when it’s presented in creative, engaging ways. There’s something powerful about making learning feel casual and fun. But at the same time, it feels like this content is working against the app’s current structure, which relies heavily on the For You page to drive user engagement. That made me wonder: how could STEM Mode be better integrated into TikTok’s ecosystem, where everything is shaped by the algorithm and quick, endless swipes?

I also started thinking about the role of the STEM tab itself. Instead of simply watching content, I wanted more control, more ways to interact with what I was learning and how I was learning it.

Reimagining STEM on TikTok

I love the idea of educational content on TikTok, especially when it’s presented in creative, engaging ways. There’s something powerful about making learning feel casual and fun. But at the same time, it feels like this content is working against the app’s current structure, which relies heavily on the For You page to drive user engagement. That made me wonder: how could STEM Mode be better integrated into TikTok’s ecosystem, where everything is shaped by the algorithm and quick, endless swipes?

I also started thinking about the role of the STEM tab itself. Instead of simply watching content, I wanted more control, more ways to interact with what I was learning and how I was learning it.

Introducing ThinkTok

An experience seamlessly integrated into the For You page that delivers interactive STEM questions as you swipe. Designed to support intentional engagement without disrupting your feed, ThinkTok blends learning into your existing TikTok habits.

Introducing ThinkTok

An experience seamlessly integrated into the For You page that delivers interactive STEM questions as you swipe. Designed to support intentional engagement without disrupting your feed, ThinkTok blends learning into your existing TikTok habits.

Introducing ThinkTok

An experience seamlessly integrated into the For You page that delivers interactive STEM questions as you swipe. Designed to support intentional engagement without disrupting your feed, ThinkTok blends learning into your existing TikTok habits.

Highlights

No need to switch tabs or leave your feed. Educational prompts appear as part of your regular scrolling experience.

Highlights

No need to switch tabs or leave your feed. Educational prompts appear as part of your regular scrolling experience.

Highlights

No need to switch tabs or leave your feed. Educational prompts appear as part of your regular scrolling experience.

The STEM tab is now added to the right-hand sidebar for easier access, while the profile icon is moved to the bottom-left info area to keep the interface clean and intuitive.

Customize everything: topics, question types, difficulty level, and how often questions appear. ThinkTok adapts to your preferences.

Questions are large, accessible, and enhanced with subtle animations that keep the experience feeling smooth and dynamic. Instead of autoplay, users swipe manually, creating a more intentional interaction rhythm that encourages reflection and focus.

Reflection

I had so much fun working on this project and designing for an app I use so frequently. Through this process, I gained a deeper appreciation for the design choices TikTok has made to ensure an uninterrupted user experience. TikTok leverages fast swiping, simplicity, minimal cognitive load, and instant rewards to keep users engaged. My design for ThinkTok was guided by similar principles to ensure alignment with TikTok’s existing design framework.

While I believe there is still so much more that can be done with the STEM tab, I recognize that my solution is just a starting point!

Reflection

I had so much fun working on this project and designing for an app I use so frequently. Through this process, I gained a deeper appreciation for the design choices TikTok has made to ensure an uninterrupted user experience. TikTok leverages fast swiping, simplicity, minimal cognitive load, and instant rewards to keep users engaged. My design for ThinkTok was guided by similar principles to ensure alignment with TikTok’s existing design framework.

While I believe there is still so much more that can be done with the STEM tab, I recognize that my solution is just a starting point!

Reflection

I had so much fun working on this project and designing for an app I use so frequently. Through this process, I gained a deeper appreciation for the design choices TikTok has made to ensure an uninterrupted user experience. TikTok leverages fast swiping, simplicity, minimal cognitive load, and instant rewards to keep users engaged. My design for ThinkTok was guided by similar principles to ensure alignment with TikTok’s existing design framework.

While I believe there is still so much more that can be done with the STEM tab, I recognize that my solution is just a starting point!