Do not attribute to malice that which can be attributed to stupidity. In the case of social media, this seems especially so - or at least the pursuit of growth at all costs. Who prefers a rational consumer over an addict?
A rational business. But an irrational one, or an enemy interested in your downfall more than your perpetual prosperity and consequent business, will happily take an addict over a rational consumer. There have been *lots* of cases throughout history of actions taken by major powers to addict, sicken and ruin large numbers of people for the purpose of control or immediate profit. The Chinese, for instance, are well acquainted with the concept, having been the victims of just such an enterprise during the Opium Wars. Perhaps TikTok is their revenge on the West for that.