Establishing TikTok as a Platform for Informal Learning: Evidence from Mixed-Methods Analysis of Creators and Viewers

Abstract

Over the past few years, participation in TikTok has rapidly increased, with a large number of people spending several hours per day consuming and creating content. In this study, we explore how such participation leads to informal learning on TikTok, as we explore patterns of how creators teach and consumers learn knowledge or skills on TikTok, making it a community conducive to sharing and learning knowledge or skills. Through a mixed methods study combining content analysis of TikTok videos and empirical investigation of TikTok users, we explore ways in which creators leverage platform affordances to share knowledge or skills on TikTok, and how their viewers learn from them. We observe successful teaching techniques, and produce recommendations for creators based on learners' preferences.