Análise da usabilidade do TikTok e seus impactos cognitivos nos estudantes do ensino médio técnico do IFPI campus Picos

Abstract

This study analyzes the behavioral design strategies and usability mechanisms of TikTok, investigating how the software architecture influences the cognitive perception and digital behavior of technical high school students at IFPI Campus Picos. The research is qualitative-quantitative and exploratory in nature, structured in three stages: bibliographic review on Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Behavioral Design, and Reward Neurobiology; technical audit of the TikTok interface through a controlled use session; and field research with a questionnaire applied to 73 students, of which 68 responses were validated. Results revealed that 69.1% of students access the platform multiple times per day, perceived ease of use averaged 4.62 on a 1-to-5 scale, while time control scored only 2.96, evidencing the intentional asymmetry of retention design. The audit identified five attention engineering mechanisms: infinite scroll, autoplay, background preloading, algorithmic feed segmentation, and simultaneous sensory overload. It was found that 44.2% of students report concentration difficulties after prolonged use and 67.7% perceive negative impacts on academic performance. Based on the findings, a set of 12 functional requirements and 6 non-functional requirements for ethical system development is proposed, grounded in the concept of healthy friction. It is concluded that TikTok's architecture systematically subverts user agency and that developers have ethical responsibility over the cognitive impacts of their interface choices.