Tiktok Social Network - A Communication Channel for Protecting Children from Abuse and Exploitation

Abstract

 

This study examines the effectiveness of TikTok as a communication channel for promoting child protection against abuse and exploitation, in the context of the platform surpassing one billion monthly active users and joining the Technology Coalition in 2021. Employing document analysis and case study methods of communication campaigns produced by governmental bodies, NGOs, and influential content creators from 2020 to 2023, the study applies Social Media Theory, Reception Theory, and Interactive Communication Theory to analyze mechanisms of message dissemination, user reception, and community engagement on TikTok. Findings indicate that short-form videos, algorithmic personalization, and high viral potential make TikTok a conducive environment for raising awareness, supporting digital education, and fostering collective action on issues related to child protection. The study also proposes strategic directions for optimizing TikTok’s educational and communicative functions amid an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.