Choking on TikTok: Memetic Content and CRAAP Analysis of Educative and Entertaining #Chokekink Videos

Sexual choking is prevalent among adolescents and young adults (AYA), some of whom report having learned about this sexual practice from social media. This study reports on sexual choking related #chokekink TikTok videos collected over 2 days in 2023-2024. We analyzed 96 entertaining and/or educative videos thematically and categorically using Memetic Content Analysis. The CRAAP (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, Purpose) test was applied to all educative content (n = 6). Videos were primarily brief, one-sided, and framed as entertainment skits utilizing sampled sounds with text annotation. They contained more content around desiring choking than potential health risks. Most people present appeared to be traditionally cisgender female AYAs. While we primarily observed videos about consensual choking, we also witnessed choking in the context of dating violence. We identified 11 themes: (1) rough sex as pleasurable, (2) choking as not rough enough, (3) ideal masculine partners choke, (4) choking is "vanilla," (5) choking is introductory to rougher kinks, (6) consensual choking boundaries are unclear, (7) loss of consciousness: concerns and experiences, (8) being choked increases feminine attractiveness, (9) choking is intimidating for the choker, (10) kink origins related to trauma, (11) engagement of sexual choking to uphold sexual norms. All the educative content (n = 6) included misinformation comprised statements that there is a right way to choke based on pressure location and/or intensity or that consciousness implies safety. Based on our findings, we provide suggestions for educators, policymakers, and technology companies.