The rise of TikTok has introduced new modes of interaction that have revolutionized how people perceive themselves and others. One particular aspect of this transformation is the increasingly visible circulation of eroticized trends. These trends can be defined as videos that focus on topics such as body image, gender expression, and sexual orientation, which are presented through specific visual imagery and audio cues. Their rapid circulation across the platform often leads to them becoming viral within hours, resulting in an explosion of comments, likes, and shares. This paper will analyze how these trends influence young people's perception of sexual desirability, popularity, and their relational market value.
TikTok allows users to interact with each other through short video clips that often involve dancing, lip-syncing, acting out skits, and engaging in various activities. The platform encourages creativity and self-expression, allowing individuals to showcase their skills and talents while also sharing their personal interests and passions.
It also provides an environment wherein sexualized content can proliferate rapidly, creating a culture of objectification and commodification of bodies and relationships.
One example of a popular eroticized trend on TikTok is the 'thigh gap' challenge. In this challenge, women post videos of themselves showing off their thigh gaps, a term used to describe the distance between one's upper leg bones. The goal is to demonstrate the slimness of their legs, which is seen as an indicator of physical attractiveness. While some might argue that this trend empowers women by celebrating different body types, it also reinforces narrow beauty standards and perpetuates harmful stereotypes about what constitutes attractiveness. Similarly, the 'Petite Girls Only' challenge encourages men to comment on only petite girls' videos, further reducing women to their physical appearance. Such challenges reinforce the notion that beauty is limited to certain body types, leading to feelings of inadequacy among those who do not fit the mold.
Another way in which eroticized trends influence young people's perception of desirability is through the promotion of unrealistic beauty standards. Many of these challenges are focused on extreme makeup, hairstyles, or clothing styles that require significant resources to achieve. They encourage users to aspire to unattainable goals, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction with their natural looks. This pressure to conform to specific beauty ideals often results in self-doubt and low self-esteem, particularly among individuals who may already feel marginalized due to their race, age, gender identity, or other factors.
Eroticized trends can also impact how young people view popularity and relational market value. By sharing intimate details of their lives and relationships online, they create a culture wherein likes, comments, and shares become markers of worthiness. These metrics are used to judge one another's success and desirability, creating a hyper-competitive environment where attention and approval are currency. The proliferation of eroticized content contributes to this atmosphere by making sexuality an integral part of social media interaction. As a result, it becomes increasingly difficult for users to differentiate between genuine connection and performative interactions designed solely to garner views and engagement.
The rapid circulation of eroticized trends on TikTok has profound implications for young people's perception of themselves and others. While some argue that such content empowers and celebrates diversity, it reinforces narrow beauty standards and creates a culture of objectification. It also contributes to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem among those who do not fit into these molds, while promoting superficial measures of popularity and relational market value.
It is essential for users to be mindful of the impact of these trends and to recognize them as symptoms of larger societal issues rather than inherent aspects of human nature.
How does TikTok's rapid and viral circulation of eroticized trends influence the way young people conceptualize sexual desirability, popularity, and their own relational market value?
"The rapid and viral circulation of eroticized trends on TikTok has significantly impacted how young people perceive sexual desirability, popularity, and relational value. The app has become a platform for individuals to express themselves sexually through creative videos that are often viewed by millions of people worldwide.