Problematic TikTok Usage as a Coping Mechanism in Gen Z and Millennials

In an increasingly globalizing world and economy, there is an increased risk of inevitability in regards to the use of social media. Social media is becoming an increasingly focal tenet and point of contention/concern in the structure of society. However, there also comes the increased risk of usage becoming problematic, as the world develops so quickly, regulation of social media struggles to keep up. This thesis focuses specifically on the usage of popular social media giant TikTok, as it is unique among social media outlets for its long-form consumption format, which is almost exclusively video-based. Arguably, in a world that is seeing increasing amounts of conflict politically, socially, and economically, people need an escape mechanism, and often turn to social media to cope with strife, or raise awareness for it. Be it from raising awareness for political causes, to coping with violence caused by economic conflict, younger generations (Gen Z and millennials) are the ones most affected by the conflicts caused by years of global turmoil, and are the ones increasingly seeking change, the easiest way being on social media. TikTok pioneered this with its catchy video format, but as time has gone on from its creation, the usage has gone from primarily educational and informative, though it still is in many capacities, to being semi-inflammatory or used as a stress management tool.