CHAPTER 2

2.0 INTRODUCTION

A literature review is a comprehensive summary of the research previously done on the topic or
issue at hand. A literature review is a critical analysis of some of the work done by researchers in
the relevant field or part of published knowledge available through summaries, classifications,
and comparisons from previous studies, a literature review by others, journal articles, scholarly
articles, books, and resources others related to specific areas of research. This study aims to
identify the negative impact of TikTok on youth mindset and behaviour among University Sains
Islam Malaysia communication students.

2.1. RESEARCH DEFINITIONS

2.1.1 TIKTOK

What is TikTok? The app, which is a social networking platform for short-form mobile videos,
encourages creative expression and provides users with the means to create entertaining,
encouraged content. If they want to add sound effects to the movie, users can look through a
variety of musical selections. They can also interact with other users by responding or
performing duets. They could take part in a performing meme, accept a challenge, or create
comedy (Herrman, 2019).

Zhang Yiming created Musical.ly in September 2016. In November 2017, Beijing Bytedance
Technology acquired the app musical.ly, and it was rebranded as TikTok. This application
quickly rose to the top of the Chinese app store in terms of worldwide distribution.( Ji Y, Xiong
Y, 2019). 800 million monthly users have been recorded as of November 2020, while 738
million first-time installations in 2019 are projected. (Zhao Shao (2018). After that, TikTok
became more and more sophisticated and used in all corners of the world. Tiktok, which is
expanding now, is the most advanced and easily adaptable application from live features, photos
and online shopping. Because of that advanced feature, more and more users are using TikTok,
especially the younger generation.

Social media such as TikTok is an application that is increasing in popularity because of the
video feature. Mobile video technology and sharing applications have conquered the sight of
youth audiences around the world. The result shows that TikTok has become the most
downloaded video app among youth ages between 13 to 18 years old. This data breaks half of the
500 million users across the countries and regions (Chen, 2018). Therefore, studying the impact
of social media on TikTok is the right choice because most of society today is using TikTok.
Because TikTok is a social media with too many users and interesting features, this study chose
TikTok over other social media to be used as a source of impact on youth. TikTok was chosen as
the social media platform that will be studied for its negative impact because it is the social
media most liked by the youth.

Conversely, they take an active role in communication and may even be considered the primary
influential force. Based on statistical data, 68.97% and 73.69%, respectively, of TikTok's user
groups are under 24 and 30 years old. It was once reported by users of TikTok goods that the
majority of their primary user bases are over 95 or even past 00. TikTok, which debuted in
September 2016 and is centered on the character attributes and lifestyle preferences of youth,
emphasizes the yearning of today's youth to express themselves (Yang S. et. al ., 2019). Youth
tend to join the trend that is happening in this era because TikTok is a trending app these days,
they will use the TikTok platform to highlight themselves and become TikTok users.

2.1.2 YOUTH MINDSET

A youth mindset involves a combination of innovative traits (leadership, creativity, self-efficacy,

energy, and risk-propensity), a focus on personal convictions, and an "app mentality" that
prioritizes immediate answers. TikTok's impact on users' mindsets is a complicated and complex
subject with broad consequences for people. TikTok material may have a wide range of effects
on users' attitudes, perceptions, and behaviour. Moreover, social media, both online and onsite,
also affects their minds, the way they think, and their expressions, which leads to their behavior
and decision-making on what to do and not to do in life (Wuttaphan, N.,2022)

According to an increasing amount of studies (Fardousi et al., 2019; Lim et al., 2021; McLean et
al., 2022). One of its disadvantages is that it could lead to self-doubt which can affect self-
esteem. TikTok, for instance, has the potential to spread unreachable and unrealistic beauty
standards, which can result in self-doubt and feelings of incompetence (Fardousi et al., 2019)
that causes body image concerns. In addition to encouraging fictitious lives and success stories,
TikTok may also generate unreasonable expectations and unhappiness. Because of this, such
problems can interfere with the youth's mental health, well-being and self-esteem. Mindsets have
the power to change individuals' emotions, attention and perception, health and well-being, and
behaviour by acting as a lens through which they perceive and comprehend their experiences
(Dweck & Yeager, 2018; Crum et al., 2013; Jamieson et al., 2021).

2.1.2.1 Self-Esteem

A study by Attah, S., 2022 states that self-esteem is a self-measuring concept that correlates to an
overall judgment of one's desirability (Papalia, Olds, & Feldman, 2004). Also it expresses how
highly someone accepts, values, admires, or rewards oneself. (Blascovich & Tomaka, 1991). The
level of knowledge and desirability of a person determines his or her level of self-esteem.
(Dedmond, 2009). Self-esteem is a developmental goal, according to Maslow's need theory.
According to Maslow (1970), physiological, protection, love and affection, identity, and
possession demands all have a hierarchy of demands that must be addressed in growing order.
Self-esteem is linked to life satisfaction, depression, anxiety, and motivation (Rosenberg, 1986).
Low self-esteem, therefore, can have a significant negative impact on one’s mental health.
According to the study by Yongqin Zhang et al.,college students' active and passive use of
TikTok is positively correlated with self-esteem, but not significantly correlated with subjective
well-being. Therefore, this study relates the use of TikTok and its negative impact on self-
esteem.
Self-comparison during social media use significantly predicts self-esteem, explaining 29.6% of
the variance in adolescents' self-esteem (Clara Moningka et al.,2020). Self-esteem is an
individual's affective evaluation of their worth, involving aspects such as self-image, self-
identity, and self-concepts, and is linked to mental and physical health, social perceptions, and
motivation in various contexts. The term "self-esteem" also describes a person's emotional or
evaluative opinion of themselves; in other words, self-esteem indicates the extent to which they
like or dislike themselves, or how much they think favorably or badly about themselves.

TikTok features like likes, comments, and scrolling through a feed can instigate feelings of
jealousy, inferiority, and pressure to be accepted, leading to temporary feelings of higher self-
esteem ( McCrory. et.al, 2022) According to, Nie and Erbring (2002) the more time people spend
using the Internet, the more they lose contact with their social environment. The form TikTok
also has a negative impact on the users cyberbullying can be extremely damaging to the mental
health of victims and they have low self-confidence and lack the self-confidence to communicate
with people face to face. Passive TikTok use is negatively associated with appearance esteem
and active use is positively associated with weight esteem, mediated by social comparison while
using TikTok (Wenjing Pan et al., 2022)

The youth also have low self-esteem due to social comparison.

2.1.2.2 Body Images Concerns

In a book by Jillian Croll ‘Body images and adolescents’ chapter 13, body image is the dynamic
perception of one’s body - how it looks, feels, and moves. It is shaped by perception, emotions,
and physical sensations, and is not static, but can change mood, physical experience, and
environment. Because adolescents experience significant physical changes in their bodies during
puberty, they are likely to experience highly dynamic perceptions of body image. Body image is
influenced strongly by self-esteem and self-evaluation, more so than by external evaluation by
others. It can, however, be powerfully influenced and affected by cultural messages and societal
standards of appearance and attractiveness. Given the overwhelming prevalence of thin and lean
female images and strong and lean male images common to all Westernized societies, body
image concerns have become widespread among adolescents.

According to a past study by Jiayan Liu titled ‘The Influence of the Body Image Presented
Through TikTok Trend-Videos and Its Possible Reasons’, the reason for the occurrence of body
shaming is because of algorithms. The algorithm TikTok uses can track what users like to
browse and interact with, and then recommend similar content to them to increase the number of
views on the platform. In addition, TikTok also has communities divided by interest, which not
only cultivates users' sense of belonging but also increases competitive pressure. Thanks to this
feature, TikTok has attracted millions of viewers and followers. According to the website data
report, there are approximately 689 million monthly active users. TikTok spreads the trend of
physical shame, negatively impacting the public's physical and mental health, body concepts, and
potential threats to society. (Jiayan Liu et al., 2021)

According to Dempster, A, this rising trend has attracted the attention of people who are prone to
eating disorders and body image disorders. Many people began to question their consumption,
their dress and their figure. Because their fitness habits, eating habits, and dressing habits did not
match the images presented in these popular videos, they began to wonder if they were lazy,
undisciplined or failed people. These videos take advantage of others’ anxiety about life and
dissatisfaction with the present. Many people think that if they live like these Internet celebrities,
their lives will be as good as theirs. As a result, these comparisons make people think "I should
eat better", "Why do I not look like this?" or "I wish I could do this." Therefore, the decline in
shame and self-worth will destroy the thinking and behaviour of those who are greatly affected.
However, as said, it is important to note that these advertised standards are not suitable for
everyone's body shape and needs (E.Los Santos, 2020)
2.1.3 YOUTH BEHAVIOUR

While TikTok can be a source of entertainment and creativity for many users, there are concerns
about its potential negative impact on youth behaviour. On the negative side, TikTok can be
addictive, lead to cyberbullying, and contribute to body image issues. Addiction to TikTok
causes users to spend a lot of time scrolling and browsing it to the point of abandoning their
obligations. For example, a student should have done the assignment given by the lecturer
because he was too busy browsing TikTok. When spending too much time on TikTok, the
possibility for a person to be exposed to the issue of behavioural symptoms is high due to the
high amount of content and unfiltered. Parents and educators need to be aware of both the
positive and negative effects of TikTok so that they can help young people use the app safely and
responsibly (Mohamed, Ngadiron, Ab Hadi, & Ghani, 2023). According to C. Montag et al.,
2021, TikTok use is often engaging for young users, but more research is needed to understand
its impact and potential negative behavioural effects.

2.1.3.1 Addiction

A study by Zheng Lin, 2023 states that due to the impact of the new COVID-19, TikTok has
gradually become a tool used by teenagers to pass time and pastime, and as an emerging social
platform, the unique function of commenting has become a very popular way for teenagers to
socialize. And because of the easy availability of short videos and the rapid and intensive
stimulation caused by a video of about 15s to teenagers, teenagers are gradually addicted to it.
TikTok addiction negatively impacts learning motivation, psychological well-being, and
personal functioning, while also stimulating the dopaminergic reward system and causing
feelings of insecurity and dependence. Teenagers are already in a stage of weak self-control, and
the content of TikTok videos itself is very attractive.
It allows teenagers to obtain short-term, fast and high-intensity stimulation, which makes it more
difficult for them to get out of it. In addition to the attractiveness of the Tiktok video itself,
Tiktok is indeed full of addictive and elaborate designs.TikTok deliberately blurs the user's time
judgment and hides the time in design. information (Yuting Lao et al, 2019). These lead to
addiction in adolescents and are highly likely to impact their lives as well as their studies.
TikTok addiction is a search for distraction and escapes through the app's algorithm, with users
constructing their sense of getting carried away through interaction with the algorithm. content
presented on TikTok is typically raw, spontaneous, and often entertaining which increases
viewer engagement (Stokel-Walker, 2023).

According to Athwal et al. (2018), Tiktok users predominantly seek emotive and cognition-based
gratifications, but they also seek escapist and time-passing gratifications. These findings are
consistent with those of Whiting and Williams (2013), who found that users use social media to
kill time. According to Vela (2020), the average user spends about an hour per day on TikTok,
and 63% of users recently liked a video that someone else had shared (Marketing Hub, 2020).
TikTok's algorithm is perceived as harmful due to its tendency to manipulate users towards
specific videos that increase their 'addiction' to the platform (Marco Scalvini et al., 2020) TikTok
stimulates the dopaminergic reward system, which is the basis of addictive behaviours.(Silvina B
Pedrouzo et al. 2023)

2.1.3.2 Pro-castinating

TikTok is used more as a means of entertainment, sometimes leading to verbal and physical
disrespectful behavior (Serli R. et al., 2023) The study by Angela Y. Lee and Jeffrey T. Hancock
said someone who feels that their social media use is out of their control may interpret an hour
spent browsing content from friends as a failure to manage their time effectively, with potential
negative ramifications for their productivity (“I feel bad having wasted my time on social
media”) (Lanette et al., 2019; Cheng et al., 2019). As a result, they may feel disappointed in
themselves, resulting in a more depressed mood and a reduced sense of self-efficacy (Du et al.,
2019; Du et al., 2021).

Youth tend to spent all their time on TikTok which influences them to procrastination is because
short-form video features influence addiction by activating users' perceived enjoyment and
feeling of withdrawal, leading to repetitive interaction and addiction ( Xiaoxu Tian et al., 2022)
This will cause the youth to become addicted and constantly surf TikTok, thus affecting their
work and responsibilities. Teenagers are already in a stage of weak self-control, and the content
of Tiktok video itself is very attractive, and it allows teenagers to obtain short-term, fast and
high-intensity stimulation, which makes it more difficult for them to get out of it. In addition to
the attractiveness of the Tiktok video itself, Tiktok is indeed full of addictive and elaborate
designs. Just like there is no clock in a casino, Tiktok deliberately blurs the user's time judgment
and hides the time in design. information [6]. These lead to addiction in adolescents and are
highly likely to impact their lives as well as their studies.

2.2 THE IMPACT OF TIKTOK ON YOUTH MINDSET.

This app also allows for psychological disorders. There is a positive significant result in the
relationship between social media and psychological disorders resulting from a study carried out
by Bargh and McKenna (2003). Their research claims that students will spend most of their
quality time on social media without having worries about their studies. As they surf more on
social media, they are exposed to other people's personal life that is not even true in the picture.
These fake lifestyles will develop students’ insecurities that lead them to psychological
disorders. In contrast, someone who has a very high level of self-esteem will be categorized as
narcissistic. This situation exists whenever a person gets so many compliments and has a group
of supporters rooting for his/her activities on social media that leads to egoism. These
adolescents are in their developing phases from babyhood to maturity ages. Excessive social
media sustains health problems such as anxiety, depression, frustration, loneliness and sadness.
At last, social media will destroy their life through mental harassment, cyber intimidation, and
infringement and tending to decrease social community participation (Bala, 2022)

2.3 THE IMPACT OF TIKTOK ON YOUTH BEHAVIOUR.

Users' motivations, such as archiving, self-expression, social interaction, and peeking,

significantly influence TikTok usage behaviors. TikTok, a popular social media platform, has
gained exponential growth in recent years. The platform generates abundant content that can be
viewed, collected, and analyzed without logging in, making it highly accessible to users. While
TikTok provides entertainment and opportunities for creative expression, there are concerns
about its impact on youth behavior. Experts and studies have raised concerns about the potential
negative impact of TikTok on youth behavior. These concerns include the promotion of harmful
content such as suicide and eating disorders, as well as the potential for addictive behavior
(Zheng, 2023). Additionally, TikTok exposes young users to a wide range of content that may
not align with their values or promote healthy behaviors.

Furthermore, TikTok's algorithm-driven content recommendation system may contribute to the

formation of echo chambers, where users are only exposed to content that aligns with their
existing beliefs and interests, further reinforcing potentially negative behaviors and beliefs. As a
result, many argue that TikTok can have detrimental effects on youth behavior, influencing their
attitudes, values, and actions in ways that may not be beneficial for their overall well-being and
development. Some sources mentioning the negative impact of TikTok on youth behavior
include :- The first source mentions the gap and denial of family and self, as well as the
prevalence of soft pornography on TikTok that negatively affects teenagers' perception of
relationships and self-worth. Another source highlights the potential for cyberbullying and
harassment on TikTok, which can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of young
users.
2.3. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Self-esteem

Youth
Body Images

TikTok
consum
Addiction
Youth
behavi

Pro-castinating

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework for The Impact of TikTok on Youth Mindset and Behaviour.

From the framework, TikTok consumption can affect youth mindset and behaviour in several
ways. It can lead to low self-esteem, body image concerns, addiction and procrastination which
are harmful to the mental and behaviour of the young generation. It is important to be mindful of
how much time we spend on TikTok and the content we watch. Youth should also take breaks
from TikTok regularly and avoid using it late at night.

2.4 USES AND GRATIFICATION THEORIES

This study uses the Uses and Gratification Theory because it wants to study why and how people
use social media for their specific needs and desires. Uses and Gratification Theory (UGT) will
help to understand the impact of social media like TikTok on users’ mindset and behaviour.
Youth use social media in three main ways which are to consume content, participate or engage
and create user-generated content. Based on the past studies by Mohammed et al., (2023),
TikTok users consume content on TikTok because they desire to escape reality, pass the time and
experience amusement. TikTok users, according to Athwal et al. (2018), mostly desire emotional
and cognition-based gratifications, but they also seek escape and time-passing gratifications.
These findings agree with those of Whiting and Williams (2013), who discovered that users
utilise social media to pass the time. This is very relevant to students who are heavy users of
social media like TikTok to spend their time surfing and watching content on TikTok without
time control which can impact their mindset and behaviour. Therefore, this theory is very related
to the research that we want to do on students who are the majority of users of TikTok today.

2.5 CHAPTER SUMMARY

This research has explained the definition and elaboration of each variable which is the impact of
TikTok on users' mindset and behaviour. It also discusses the relation between variables.