Sleep mode alert: tiktok's default setting can drain your phone's battery overnight

Are you guilty of scrolling through TikTok before bed, only to wake up to a dead phone battery? You're not alone. A recent study found that many users unknowingly consume their entire data plan each night thanks to a default TikTok setting.

Automatic video looping: the stealthy battery killer

By default, TikTok will continue playing videos even when you've stopped interacting with the app. This means that if you fall asleep with TikTok open, the app will keep running indefinitely, rapidly draining your phone's battery.

The study reveals that TikTok can consume up to 1GB of data per hour, translating to a staggering 6-8GB in a single night if you're not connected to Wi-Fi. This can quickly turn your phone into a hot, overheating device that leaves you with a dead battery and a steep data bill.

How to protect your battery and data

The good news is that TikTok has added a feature to automatically switch to a new video without requiring user input. However, this setting can also contribute to excessive battery consumption if left on by default.

To avoid falling victim to TikTok's battery-sucking loop, you can disable the automatic video playback feature. Go to the app's settings, select