# Sam Altman's TikTok habit reveals the app's addictive power

> OpenAI's CEO admits short-form video is dangerously compelling, even for him.
- Title: Sam Altman's TikTok habit reveals the app's addictive power
- Summary: OpenAI's CEO admits short-form video is dangerously compelling, even for him. Even tech leaders who build AI systems struggle with TikTok's addictive design…
- Keywords: sam altman, openai, tiktok, short-form video, dopamine, gen alpha, social media addiction, tech ceos, digital wellness, sora, Sam, Altman's
- Source: Fortune — https://fortune.com/2026/09/16/openai-ceo-sam-altman-scrolls-on-tiktok-short-form-video-relax-before-bed-but-dangerous-for-gen-alpha
- Author: Preston Fore
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sam altman, openai, tiktok, short-form video, dopamine, gen alpha, social media addiction, tech ceos, digital wellness, sora
## Altman unwinds with TikTok
The OpenAI CEO watches 5 to 10 minutes of short-form videos before bed to relax, just like millions of other Americans.

> I happen to like short-form video. I happen to like the ability to watch 5 or 10 minutes of short-form video before I go to bed as a way to unwind and relax a little bit.
## His scrolling spiraled out of control
While developing Sora, Altman's TikTok use escalated from minutes to an hour, then to three hours on a Saturday afternoon.
## He deleted the app entirely
Altman removed TikTok from his phone because he felt he lacked the self-control to manage his usage, comparing it to the iPhone's power.

> I deleted TikTok because it was just too powerful.
## He won't let his kids use it
As a father, Altman believes short-form video is dangerous for Gen Alpha and that kids can't reasonably resist the dopamine hit.

> I do think it's dangerous.
## Teens report real harms
A Pew Research survey found 28% of teen TikTok users say they spend too much time on it, 37% report sleep disruption, and 29% say it hurts productivity.
## Other CEOs use TikTok strategically
Virgin Group CEO Josh Bayliss scrolls TikTok to understand younger consumers, while other executives use social media breaks for wellness.

> The zeitgeist is not people in their 50s like me. The zeitgeist is 20-something year olds who are shaping the culture that we have an obligation to serve.
## Altman prefers reading books
When he steps away from social media, Altman returns to his analog hobby of reading, particularly first-hand accounts of past technological revolutions.

> I love reading. One of my hobbies is to read first-party contemporaneous accounts of previous technological revolutions.
## Key takeaway

Even tech leaders who build AI systems struggle with TikTok's addictive design, and they're keeping their kids off the platform entirely.