I’ve always joked that TikTok is my little treat. My “I’ll just check one video before bed” habit that inevitably turns into a full‑blown time warp. But last night… last night was the moment I had to face the truth. I’m not just using TikTok. I’m not just enjoying TikTok. I am, without question, addicted to TikTok.

And the evidence is ironclad: I missed the Montana’s Brier Curling Final.

Let me repeat that for the people in the back: I missed the Brier Final because I was scrolling TikTok. If that’s not a cry for help, I don’t know what is.

The Night I Lost to the Algorithm

Here’s how it went down.

My wife and I enjoyed a beautiful Sunday dinner, and after that, we settled on the couch. She watched “Memory Of A Killer”, and I got ready to watch the Brier final. What did I do? I opened TikTok “just for a minute.” And then—poof—3 hours evaporated like steam off Lake Superior in February.

I didn’t even notice the time passing. That’s the scary part. One minute I’m watching a guy teach me how to make a 17‑layer grilled cheese, the next I’m deep into a series about a raccoon who apparently lives in someone’s kitchen like a tiny, chaotic roommate. Then I’m learning about a woman who claims she can identify people’s personalities based on how they peel oranges. Then I’m watching a curling clip—but not the curling clip I should’ve been watching.

By the time I looked up, the Brier was over. Not “ending soon.” Not “final rock.” Over.

I had missed the whole thing.

The Algorithm Knows Me Too Well

The worst part is that TikTok doesn’t even feel guilty. It’s like the app pats me on the head and says, “Shh, don’t worry about the Brier. Look at this dog who thinks it’s a horse.” And I fall for it every time.

TikTok knows exactly what to serve me:

• A dash of cooking videos
• A sprinkle of comedy
• A generous helping of sports clips
• A suspicious number of home‑renovation fails
• And just enough weirdness to keep me curious

It’s like the app has built a psychological profile of me so accurate it could probably host my morning show.

The Moment of Realization

When I finally snapped out of the scroll‑coma and checked the time, I had that sinking feeling you get when you realize you’ve done something deeply avoidable. Like when you forget your coffee on the roof of your car. Or when you send a text to the wrong group chat.

I opened the TSN app. I saw the final score. And I just sat there in silence. I chose TikTok over curling. I chose chaos over culture. I chose the algorithm over the athletes.

So… Now What?

Am I going to quit TikTok? Absolutely not. Let’s be realistic. But am I going to pretend I have more self‑control? Yes, I am. Maybe I’ll watch the Brier highlights and pretend I saw it live.

Or maybe—I’ll accept that TikTok is my nightly black hole, and that sometimes, despite my best intentions, I’m going to miss a curling final because a raccoon in a hoodie was making pancakes.

Final Thoughts From a Man Who Should Know Better

I love TikTok. I really do. It’s fun, it’s chaotic, it’s endlessly entertaining. But last night was a wake‑up call. A reminder that even the strongest among us—those who can handle -30 mornings, those who can survive Thunder Bay potholes, those who can eat an entire Montana’s appetizer platter without blinking—can still fall victim to the infinite scroll. So here I am, confessing my sins. A grown adult. A radio morning show host. A proud Canadian. Taken down by TikTok.

And next year, when the Brier Final rolls around, I’ll be ready. I’ll be focused. I’ll be disciplined.

…or I’ll be watching a guy teach his pet goose how to skateboard. Honestly, it could go either way.