Short Made Them Powerful: Exploring Motivations and Problematic Uses of TikTok
Short Made Them Powerful: Exploring Motivations and Problematic Uses of TikTok
Youngju Jung,Taeyeon Kim,2 Authors,Yongjun Sung
TLDR
The underlying motives for using TikTok were examined and differences in psychological symptoms related to TikTok usage patterns (i.e., active vs. passive) were explored, demonstrating the distinguished outcomes of usage types.
Abstract
The penetration of short-form content in daily life is undeniable. TikTok is one of the most popular and fastest-growing short-form video applications globally. This study examined the underlying motives for using TikTok and explored differences in psychological symptoms related to TikTok usage patterns (i.e., active vs. passive). A survey of 500 TikTok users identified six prominent reasons for engaging in TikTok. These are “information-seeking,” “time-killing,” “self-expression,” “trend-seeking,” “escapism,” and “inspiration-seeking.” In addition, the active use of TikTok was positively associated with dependency and addictive symptoms. The results contribute to the understanding of TikTok and other short-form videos by uncovering motives and demonstrating the distinguished outcomes of usage types.