Most people don’t realize how much the things we watch change the way we think. Take something known as the Tetris effect. After people play the block-stacking game Tetris for hours, they often keep “seeing” the shapes long after the screen is off. They may imagine how furniture could fit together like puzzle pieces or even dream about falling blocks. It’s a quirky example of how the brain rewires itself through repetition. Psychologists call this neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form new patterns based on repeated experiences.
Now imagine applying that same principle to social media feeds like TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook. These platforms run on algorithms that are like mirrors — they reflect back whatever you pay attention to. Watch three funny cat videos, and your feed will soon be filled with cats. Linger on a motivational clip, and the system will start offering more encouragement. The change can be fast: TikTok’s algorithm can lock onto your interests within just a few hours of focused viewing. It’s like training a dog — reward the behavior you want, and it repeats. Ignore what you don’t want, and it fades away.
That’s where my experiment comes in. I want to see if I can purposely train an algorithm to feed me content that reinforces discipline, creativity, and order. Instead of letting social media scatter my attention, I’m turning it into a tool. The idea is to create a brand-new account and only watch videos that embody the traits I want: consistency, productivity, problem-solving, and clear thinking. Not just lectures or dry advice, but entertaining videos that make these traits enjoyable and sticky. Think of it like hiding spinach in a smoothie — you get the healthy stuff, but in a form you want to consume.
The mental goals I hope to achieve are simple but powerful:
- I want my mind to become orderly and disciplined in thought and action.
- I want to recognize patterns quickly in new information and environments.
- I want to build systems and processes that simplify and optimize my life.
- I want to strengthen my ability to think creatively and outside the box.
- I want to eliminate procrastination and act promptly on important tasks.
- I want to form consistent, good habits that align with my gut desires and long-term goals.
- I want to train my attention to focus on what benefits me and my household.
- I want discipline to feel natural rather than forced.
- I want my thinking to shift from rigid and reactive to flexible and strategic.
- I want entertainment itself to reinforce discipline and growth rather than distraction.
- I want to see measurable progress in how I pursue, structure, and achieve my goals.
In a way, I’m trying to flip social media upside down. Instead of it being a source of distraction, I want to harness it as a brain gym — a place where short videos become micro-reinforcements of the mindset I want to live out. Will it work perfectly? Probably not. Algorithms chase engagement, and they may sometimes push exaggerated or unrelated content. But if repetition reshapes the brain — and if algorithms can be trained to repeat — then using these tools with purpose could change the way I think, the way I act, and ultimately the way I live.
Training the TikTok Algorithm
For those wanting to try this experiment, these are the steps you’ll need to do.
- Create a new account with a fresh email/phone for a clean slate.
- Skip or carefully select interests when prompted during setup.
- Search for seed topics immediately (e.g., “discipline routine,” “study motivation,” “creative problem solving,” “habit tracker,” “minimalist lifestyle”).
- Watch full videos only if they match the traits you want (discipline, order, creativity, productivity).
- Rewatch or loop videos you want more of — strong signal for the algorithm.
- Like, comment, share on reinforcing content, even with short comments.
- Follow creators who consistently embody your desired themes.
- Immediately skip/swipe away videos that don’t fit (don’t linger, don’t engage).
- Use “Not interested” on distracting or irrelevant videos.
- Check “Liked” tab and remove any accidental likes that don’t align.
- Stay consistent for the first 48–72 hours; this “locks in” your For You Page direction.
- Avoid cross-pollination: don’t use this account for casual or unrelated entertainment.
1. How Much Time Is Needed to Train the Algorithm
- First 48–72 hours after creating a new account are the most critical. The algorithm “tests” your preferences heavily during this window.
- You don’t need marathon sessions. Even 10–20 minutes a day of intentional viewing (watching full videos, rewatching, liking, skipping wrong content) is enough for TikTok to learn.
- TikTok prioritizes quality of engagement (watch time, replays, likes) over sheer hours spent.
2. After Training Phase
- Once your feed is aligned, you don’t have to spend long stretches daily.
- Short, purposeful sessions (5–10 minutes) are enough to keep reinforcing the algorithm’s direction.
- Quitting the app after your “training session” won’t sabotage progress — in fact, it helps you avoid drift.
3. Analogy to Understand
Think of it like training a puppy:
- In the first few days, you need consistent, short lessons to establish habits.
- After that, quick daily refreshers are enough to keep the dog well-behaved.
Long, random play sessions (mindless scrolling) confuse the training.
Specific search phrases to get started
Here are starter topics/keywords you can search for to train your feed:
- “Day in the life productive morning”
- “Clean desk setup aesthetic”
- “Habit tracker motivation
- “Military discipline routine” (many are entertaining + motivating)
- “Study motivation aesthetic”
- “Atomic Habits summary funny”
- “Gym grind funny motivation”
- “Stoic mindset shorts”
- “Timeblocking productivity”
- “Minimalist lifestyle hacks”
- “Entrepreneur daily routine”
- “Process optimization funny”
- “Pattern recognition puzzles”
- “Creative problem solving hacks”
These are broad enough that TikTok will serve you both motivational lectures and entertaining skits/reels that embody the mindset you want.
