Despite its popularity and influence, TikTok is often dismissed as a "vapid" and "shallow" app that produces "inane" videos.
Recent research has demonstrated that it can be used to explore topics beyond the superficial, such as the effect of erotic trends on unconscious relational scripts, desire patterns, and social positioning among peer networks. This essay will examine how these factors are impacted by engaging with TikTok erotics.
Let's consider what is meant by an "unconscious relational script." It refers to the unspoken rules or expectations that govern interactions between people. These scripts vary across cultures and contexts but can include things like gender roles, power dynamics, communication styles, physical touch norms, etc. By studying how users interact with each other through TikTok erotica, we can observe which relational scripts they adhere to and which ones they challenge or subvert.
If a user posts a video of themself performing a sexual act, this could either reinforce traditional ideas about male dominance or challenge them by showing female pleasure in a way not usually seen in mainstream media. Similarly, if two users comment on each other's videos with flirtatious comments, they may be establishing a new form of connection based on mutual attraction rather than traditional courtship rituals.
Let's turn to desire patterns. Desire patterns refer to the way individuals experience and express their sexuality. They can include everything from body type preferences to sexual fantasies to preferred masturbation techniques. By examining the content posted by users on TikTok, we can see how different desires are expressed and shared within peer networks.
If one user posts a video of themselves using a vibrator while another responds with a comment about their own vibrator usage habits, it suggests a commonality in sexual preferences.
If a group of friends share videos of their sexual encounters, it shows a pattern of openness and comfort around sex-related topics.
Social positioning refers to the ways in which people use digital platforms to assert or challenge social hierarchies. This includes things like race, class, gender identity, age, and ability status. On TikTok, users may engage in erotic trends that challenge dominant narratives about who is allowed to participate in certain acts or have particular types of relationships. This could involve posting videos that subvert heteronormative expectations or highlight marginalized identities through explicit displays of intimacy. In sum, studying the ways in which users interact with erotics on TikTok can provide insight into the unconscious relational scripts, desire patterns, and social positioning that shape our interpersonal dynamics.
How do TikTok erotic trend engagement practices affect unconscious relational scripts, desire patterns, and social positioning among peer networks?
The popularity of erotic trends on TikTok can influence individuals' unconscious relational scripts, desires, and social positions within their peer groups. These trends often involve suggestive choreography, body language, and dialogue that convey sexual attraction and arousal, which can have subtle effects on how people perceive themselves and others sexually.