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Short Made Them Powerful: Exploring Motivations and Problematic Uses of TikTok
Youngju Jung1, Taeyeon Kim1, Sojin Lee1
1School of Psychology, Korea University, Seongbuk-gu, Republic of Korea.
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.
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