When talking about young people today, you have to talk about TikTok. Every generation has its own special medium that characterises it. The medium of 14 to 20-year-olds is most likely to be TikTok. For the older Gen Z generation, Instagram and TikTok play an equal role. It is moving to see to what extend and in what way TikTok influences young people’s mindsets. This much can be revealed in advance: TikTok is shaping young people more than we currently realise.

Our in-depth psychological representative study shows which topics are relevant on TikTok and how much young people rely on TikTok in their everyday lives. At the same time, they feel that this “false” security is not good for them. This is because they consult the platform for guidance and to help them organise their everyday lives. In reality, however, the platform also contributes to the young people being trapped in a kind of hanging game. They lose themselves on the platform in endless scrolling and daydreaming, hoping to find happiness, their dream job or their dream life – without having to invest too much. TikTok thus reinforces the basic problem of youth: the perceived loss of control.