The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC perceptions: A 2025 TikTok User Study — Summary version

Eric Hsu, Researcher, Doublethink Lab

This article is a summary of the report The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study. This research focuses on Taiwanese TikTok users, specifically individuals aged 15 to 18, exploring the relationship between TikTok usage, media consumption habits, political and public opinions, psychological traits, and peer interactions. Prior to data collection, informed consent from both participants and their legal guardians and participants was obtained. A total of 16 participants who use TikTok participated in one-hour interviews. The archived data and transcripts were anonymized to protect participants and stored on an encrypted server.

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

Research Findings

• For the youth interviewed, TikTok’s high user engagement stems not only from the platform’s ease of use and precise algorithmic customization but also in its social aspects and the personal significance users attach to it.
• It was observed that TikTok continues to push political content in implicit ways, embedding narratives that imply “unification would have little impact on Taiwan” or framing Taiwan’s domestic issues as evidence of the “failure of the democratic system,” thereby weakening public confidence in democracy.
• Most participants hold a negative perception of the PRC government. However, some believe that generational and cultural differences should be considered when evaluating Chinese society, making it difficult to generalize. Through platforms like TikTok and Douyin, participants feel they have “more direct” access to Chinese society and see little distinction in the daily lives of the two populations.
• Nearly all participants explicitly expressed a preference for maintaining Taiwan’s current political system and strongly rejected unification. However, when asked about the prospect of war, most believe Taiwan would not be able to withstand an invasion and would likely surrender.
• While most participants negatively view the PRC government, many believe unification would have limited impact on the daily lives of ordinary people. As a result, they adopt a passive attitude, leaning toward accepting the status quo. The sense of powerlessness and indifference expressed by participants may be a crucial focus for future work on this issue.
• Young people generally lack a concrete understanding of the threat posed by the PRC, which is not surprising given the pressures of academic advancement, social interactions, self-identity, and career exploration. Additionally, Taiwanese society lacks effective communication aimed at the younger generation regarding the potential threats from the PRC and the possible scenarios of cross-strait conflict.
• TikTok’s role in PRC’s united front efforts concerning Taiwan has drawn significant attention, but its broader social and psychological implications should not be overlooked. Issues such as cyberbullying, thirst trap content, child exploitation, scams, stalking, the harassment of marginalized groups for entertainment, and self-harm behaviors on the platform can have severe consequences for users.
• Most participants oppose a government ban on TikTok, viewing it as an infringement on media and speech freedom. Some express concern that it could push Taiwan toward an authoritarian-style censorship system, limiting the diversity of available information. While young people may not fully grasp TikTok’s significance or its potential risks in the context of the PRC’s united front efforts in Taiwan, they perceive a ban as a violation of their rights. In the short term, such a ban may curb the spread of certain issues, but in the long run, it could undermine the resilience of Taiwan’s democracy and hinder the development of its public discourse.
• Although young people tend to oppose a TikTok ban, they still express significant concerns about its harmful content, and support regulations aimed at mitigating its negative impact on young users.

TikTok Usage Among Taiwanese Youth: Frequency and Starting point

The data from the Taiwan Communication Survey Database (2023, Third Round, Second Issue) show that among minors under 18 in Taiwan, 43.61% of elementary school students use TikTok, 57.87% of middle school students (the highest), and 50.73% of high school students. Among the sixteen high school participants in this study, ten use the international version of TikTok, four use both the international version and the Chinese version (Douyin), and two only use Douyin.

Most participants started using TikTok in grades five or six, initially driven by content they were interested in (such as celebrity fandom), but mostly influenced by social factors, such as keeping up with topics and understanding memes shared by classmates and friends. According to the participants, the frequency of use was highest during middle school, which aligns with the trends seen in the communication survey, but it slightly declined in high school due to academic pressures. There were also noticeable differences in usage across different schools based on personal lifestyles.

Participants noted that about 60–80% of their peers of the same age use TikTok, with a higher percentage of female users (around 70–80%). Twelve participants said they use TikTok almost every day, while four use it about 3–4 times a week. On weekdays, seven participants use TikTok for 30 minutes to 1 hour, six use it for 1 to 2 hours, and three use it for more than 2 hours. Additionally, most participants mentioned that on weekends or during school vacations, their usage may exceed 3 hours.

Why Is TikTok Attractive?

For most participants, TikTok is more attractive than other social media platforms due to several key aspects:

1. The platform’s precise ability to identify users’ preferences and proactively push relevant content through algorithms.
2. The short format of content, making it easy to absorb and find information that users enjoy.
3. The diversity of content and its ability to instantly keep users updated on popular trends and social dynamics.

Many participants, regardless of region or age, consistently mentioned how TikTok’s algorithm accurately identifies users’ preferences at different stages and proactively pushes related content, making the viewing experience highly personalized. As TikTok’s content is typically short, to the point, and aligned with users’ preferences, many participants stated that it serves as an excellent way to pass the time in their daily routines. Since the time spent on TikTok usually occurs during fragmented periods, such as after school, during their commute, or before bed, the platform’s precise recommendations and manageable usage time make it appealing.

“If I watch some other platforms, I might have to search for content that interests me, but on TikTok, as soon as you open it, you immediately find what you like.”

“I feel like I don’t have to think too much about it. It’s just relaxing to watch without needing to deeply understand what it’s about.”

In addition to entertainment and staying informed about current events, TikTok often provides practical knowledge and helpful content. Beyond popular dances and makeup tutorials, there are videos on cooking, space organization, writing, video editing, and presentation skills. These types of content have helped many teenagers manage their daily lives and, in some cases, provided valuable support for academic and career exploration.

“The video editing tips were really useful. I applied them in our presentation video. I really liked how the creator used aerial shots with no music, just an empty scene, which I thought was funny. So, I used that style in our video, and later, some classmates told me they liked how it made the video feel light and funny.”

Moreover, many participants mentioned that during their TikTok usage, they occasionally found emotional support and encouragement, which had a significant impact on them during psychological low points. For example, they encountered advice on personal growth and self-improvement from channels focused on professional writing, learning to accept imperfections, and approaching challenges with a more positive mindset. For some users, these videos became an emotional anchor, providing motivation and inspiration through short videos.

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

Taiwan Youth’s Fact-Checking Habits and Overall Trust in Information

In this qualitative interview series, among many things, we explored how Taiwanese youth verify information and develop trust in information. Many participants reported becoming suspicious when content contradicted their existing knowledge or views. This skepticism was especially evident when encountering scientific or health-related information, particularly when it challenged their common sense or knowledge from sources they considered reliable.

Some participants mentioned that when faced with unverifiable information online, they adopt a cautious approach, finding it difficult to uncover the truth. Many acknowledged that, because they are not directly involved in the events, they struggle to fully trust online information from different sources. As the internet continues to blur the line between truth and falsehood, they tend to take a reserved stance toward certain events, resisting easy persuasion. However, this also reveals a sense of helplessness and passivity in navigating information.

“Sometimes YouTubers will post things, like the throat slashing case that happened in school. Some YouTubers made videos about it, but I still remain skeptical. There’s no way to fully believe it, because I’m not the person involved and I don’t have the full picture. Sometimes, the information I hear is very different from what others tell me, and I don’t know how to explain it. It seems contradictory, so I just stay skeptical. After all, the truth can’t be found. You’re not the person involved.”

“But for me right now, I think any source is 50/50, because the internet is too advanced, and there’s so much truth and distortion intertwined. Even if they give you a platform with some arguments, it’s not necessarily true.”

Researchers observed that participants expressed a sense of helplessness and confusion regarding the authenticity of information in today’s post-truth era. One participant mentioned that platform algorithms enhance the echo chamber effect, so they only receive information that aligns with their own views, making it difficult to understand the full picture of events and discern right from wrong. Another participant expressed frustration with this.

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

What content does TikTok actively push to Taiwanese Youth?

Most participants believe that TikTok and Douyin platforms provide tailored and mindful content recommendations. Teen users generally feel that the platform quickly captures and adapts to their changing interests, continuously pushing content that aligns with their preferences through a highly personalized recommendation system, creating a strong sense of immersion and engagement. Many participants mentioned using “Not Interested” and “Report” features to improve their algorithms. These features, to some extent, reinforce the perception that users can control the content they see.

However, some participants noted that political content appeared on the platform at specific times, often in clusters of two to three political videos. This was especially noticeable during the 2024 Taiwanese presidential election, when many participants noticed a surge in political videos appearing on their feed, despite not being part of TikTok’s paid promotion mechanism.

“Political news, like the legislative debates in the legislature, because I actually enjoy watching those, so it will push them to me. It adds its own annotations, because they are news-related, and some news stations’ broadcasts go into TikTok. Most of these have a blue-leaning stance.”

These short videos often emphasize the chaos within Taiwan’s current government agencies, presented in a decontextualized form through short videos, aiming to stir the audience’s emotions and highlight the “incompetence” of specific political figures.

However, some participants also found that even though they usually do not focus on specific political issues, the platform still pushes related content during the election period. For instance, one participant mentioned:

“Sometimes it pushes something like ‘Cross-Strait One Family’ [content], especially during turbulent times, like the presidential election period. It promoted a video on ‘Cross-Strait One Family to me and when I saw that video… I felt like, hmm… I wouldn’t usually scroll through this kind of video, or maybe it’s some kind of scenic video, I’m not sure. Anyway, it pushed it to me, and pushed about two or three videos of the same thing, and then it disappeared. If I don’t like or interact with it, it just fades away as I scroll.”

It’s worth mentioning that some politically related content may be embedded in more subtle ways, such as through scenic videos or other unrelated entertainment themes like comics, to make them less aware of the content’s intent.

“It would show two places, like Kinmen and… I forget the other place, but anyway, it’s two places across from each other, and then it says, ‘We should be one family, love each other,’ or something like that.”

“I was originally watching something about comics or something like that, and suddenly it inserted a ‘Cross-Strait One Family, we China should unite.’ During the election period, I saw this video more often.”

Overall, these interviews suggest that TikTok and Douyin often use strategies like intensive promotion and subtle insertions when promoting political content, blending political narratives with users’ everyday preferred entertainment content. While the long-term use of TikTok and Douyin may not immediately affect the identity of Taiwanese citizens or youth, the cognitive intervention caused by soft political propaganda and information manipulation strategies could gradually reduce users’ sensitivity to the perceived threat from PRC and weaken their resistance. These propaganda techniques are not limited to “scenic videos” or other entertaining contents, but often use narratives about “similarities in cross-strait life” to shape audiences’ perception about unification. For example, some videos highlight that the food, culture, and lifestyle between the two sides are almost identical, trying to create the impression that “the impact of unification would be minimal.”

TikTok Youth Users’ Perceptions of the PRC

When asked about their impressions of the PRC government, many participants expressed largely negative views, particularly in terms of freedom and information control. They generally believe that the PRC government practices authoritarian rule, strictly controlling the behavior and speech of its citizens. One participant shared that the PRC government hides and deletes content that is detrimental to its image, especially on social media platforms like Douyin, saying, “They delete all the bad content.” This reflects the immense control the PRC government exerts over information, restricting the flow of freely available content and shaping the narrative that aligns with the official stance.

“Although they are efficient, they don’t pursue democracy.”

“I think the PRC government is very communist. They produce videos that portray Xi Jinping in a very positive light, as if every Chinese person loves him. But if I use the international version of Douyin, sometimes Chinese people will bypass the firewall and say things like ‘China, mainland, Xi Jinping is bad’ and so on.”

Additionally, we observed that participants who had lived in the PRC showed relatively milder views of the PRC government compared to those who had grown up entirely in Taiwan. One participant, who grew up in Taiwan but briefly went to middle school in the PRC, shared their view: “From my experience when I was there, I felt that… the government wants to control everything. They want people’s actions to fit with their ideals, so the freedom is not as high.”

This participant believed that although the Chinese government’s governing model restricts personal freedoms, considering the PRC’s vast population and the complexity of its social structure, such centralized management may be necessary. In contrast, they felt that Taiwan’s higher level of freedom could lead to social management challenges.

In addition to exploring the views of the current high school generation on the PRC government, we aimed to further understand the nuances of participants’ perceptions of both the PRC government and Chinese people, exploring the potential relationship between long-term use of TikTok and Douyin and these perceptions.

On social media and the internet, many participants mentioned encountering the image of “Little Pink” (Chinese nationalist netizens) from the PRC, who display radical nationalist tendencies and often engage in online debates. Some participants also noted that due to the closed nature of the PRC’s internet, some Chinese users must bypass the firewall to access YouTube or TikTok. This exacerbates conflicts in cross-border interactions, leading to more extreme perceptions of Chinese netizens among Taiwanese people and teens. However, some participants pointed out that, aside from political factors, Chinese netizens can also be friendly and kind.

“If I interact with Chinese people, I encounter a lot of ‘Little Pink’ on the international version, or in other places like Facebook, though not many. But honestly, if you exclude politics, I think they’re really nice and friendly people.”

While many participants initially held negative views of Chinese citizens, these perceptions began to shift as they interacted with Chinese users through platforms like TikTok and Douyin. They mentioned that information from the PRC has become widely spread through YouTube, Douyin, and other platforms in recent years, making them realize that past stereotypes did not fully represent the entire society. They discovered that Chinese cities are more developed than they had imagined and that Chinese people’s daily lives are not fundamentally different from their own. The behavioral differences between them are more rooted in social culture and lifestyle habits than in inherent personal differences, which led to a shift in their impressions of the PRC.

“It seems less so. Recently I’ve been watching some YouTubers like Zhong Ming-xuan. He often travels to China. After seeing that, I have a slightly better impression of them. The streets are not as bad as previously described, and their living standards have improved a little. That’s about it.”

On the other hand, the use of platforms like TikTok and Douyin has allowed participants to “directly” engage with the daily lives of ordinary Chinese people. Through this interaction, they realized that most Chinese people, like Taiwanese people, are not primarily concerned with politics, but with their daily lives and families. Particularly in videos showcasing rural life and live-streamed product sales, many Chinese citizens and farmers use social media to sell their products, presenting their daily lives and efforts to find opportunities for survival. These images made participants realize that Chinese citizens, like Taiwanese people, are ordinary individuals simply striving to live.

“Eh… China. I’ve seen a lot of live-streamed sales, like rural oranges, and situations where they show you how juicy their fruits are. I think the people just want to find a way to sell their products. Maybe their other sales channels aren’t doing well. They’re just trying to make a living.”

Overall, the participants generally hold negative impressions of the PRC government, but when it comes to Chinese citizens, some believe that generational differences and cultural diversity should be taken into account, making it unfair to generalize. Additionally, with the popularity of TikTok and Douyin, these platforms have become important avenues for Taiwanese people and teens to directly engage with Chinese society and daily life. Through these everyday interactions and observations, many participants believe that the lives of Chinese citizens are not so different from those in Taiwan. Most are concerned with family, work, and life’s trivialities, just ordinary people working towards their future. These experiences have led some participants to reconsider their previous impressions, recognizing that, despite some differences, everyone is just an ordinary person trying to make a living, with little distinguishing them.

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

PRC’s United Front Strategy Towards Taiwan and How Youth View the Unification Issue

The previous chapter discussed the information and narratives from PRC, and how these contents influence Taiwanese youth’s sense of identity and their thoughts on the future of Taiwan and the PRC. This is one of the core issues that this project focuses on. Overall, while TikTok may not significantly alter the sense of identity among Taiwanese people and younger generations, its influence cannot be ignored. In particular, it may play a key role in reducing the perception of PRC’s threat and weakening the overall resistance in Taiwanese society.

This influence is often subtle, rather than direct political propaganda promoting the rule of the Chinese Communist Party, glorifying the PRC, or loudly advocating for Taiwan’s unification. The PRC uses internal social issues, economic development, and people’s livelihood challenges in Taiwan to shape impressions like “Taiwan’s democracy is a joke and not worth supporting” or “PRC’s system is superior to Taiwan’s democratic system,” thereby undermining public confidence in democratic governance. Additionally, as a highly visual and entertainment-oriented platform, TikTok helps build a sense of daily familiarity with the PRC through cultural infiltration and linguistic influence, showcasing the “real life” of Chinese society through soft content. This attempts to blur the existing impressions that Taiwanese people and the younger generation have of the PRC’s governance model, reducing their vigilance and rejection of its authoritarian system.

This narrative strategy does not exist independently but is closely integrated with PRC’s overall cognitive warfare toward Taiwan. Through information manipulation and cultural export, PRC seeks to influence the political attitudes and perceptions of Taiwanese citizens and adolescents on various issues at the ideological level. Researchers must emphasize that PRC’s cognitive warfare towards Taiwan is not solely driven from the top-down by the government. Much of the content that aligns with official narratives is produced semi-spontaneous by the private sector. Whether for commercial interests, traffic direction, or based on individual political stances, many Chinese content creators, social media accounts, or companies have incentives to produce, amplify, and spread narratives that align with official positions — similar to what is seen on WeChat. This spontaneous catering model makes information intervention in Taiwan more flexible and penetrating, and it is difficult to trace back directly to official intervention, thus reducing external awareness of its political propaganda.

This phenomenon is also common on short video platforms, where creators often produce content that taps into popular emotions and attracts significant attention, driven by the platform’s algorithmic mechanism. The PRC official narrative framework then provides a profitable direction for this content. For example, some videos may emphasize the advantages of the PRC’s economic development, or present to be a neutral comparison of the cross-strait daily life situation, but in fact, it amplify internal contradictions in Taiwanese society and subtly leads Taiwanese audiences to question the democratic system and encourages a positive impression of the PRC model and life under PRC rule. The diversity and unofficial nature of these narratives make their influence deeper and harder to recognize and resist. Over time, this may create a more favorable public sentiment for the PRC’s ongoing promotion of unification.

Participants generally hold a variety of views and perspectives on the potential risks of TikTok content being used as a part of the PRC’s united front strategy[1]. Some believe that such content is usually immediately refuted and cannot have a lasting impact. Others argue that cultural exchange is a normal phenomenon, especially since some Mainland Chinese terms or products are practical and do not warrant an overreaction. They note that Taiwan has deep historical ties to Chinese culture and believe there is no need to make a distinct separation between the two cultures. Additionally, some participants question the need to resist Chinese culture. They believe that if Taiwan considers the PRC to be a separate country, it should treat cultural influence like that from any other nation, rather than targeting the PRC specifically.

At the same time, some participants observed the phenomenon of cultural infiltration and expressed concerns about the potential united front influence. Some mentioned that language is one of the key pathways for cultural infiltration. They noticed that more and more young people are starting to use Mainland Chinese terms, such as “视频” (video) instead of “影片” (film) or “公交车” (bus) instead of “公车” (bus), and even children are affected. This shift in language not only reflects the influence of Chinese social media but also makes some participants feel that their language habits are being subtly altered.

Participants pointed out that while previous generations of Taiwanese had limited understanding of the PRC, the flow of information and the influence of social media — especially with a large number of videos from Douyin circulating on platforms like Instagram — have made Taiwanese youth more frequently exposed to Chinese daily life, entertainment, and current events. This continuous exposure has led some to feel that the differences between Taiwan and PRC are not as large as they once thought, thereby diminishing the hostility that previously may have existed. Although participants believe this phenomenon may not directly affect individual national identity, they acknowledged that it could make Taiwanese people less sensitive to the PRC’s united front tactics, or even unconsciously lower their alertness.

“I think it will, because it wasn’t just my generation, it was our previous generation or even the one before. People didn’t have much understanding of China, but now, with the development of information, and with so many videos from Douyin appearing on Instagram, apart from Mainland Chinese terms being widely used, people feel like they understand more about what’s happening inside China. It makes us feel like the differences aren’t that big, so gradually, there’s less of a sense of confrontation. But whether it will affect national identity, I don’t think so. But whether it will make us more susceptible to United Front tactics, I think it’s possible.”

Moreover, participants also observed that more and more Taiwanese people are choosing to travel to the PRC in recent years. This phenomenon is closely related to PRC’s recent policies, such as the Taiwan Compatriot Travel Card, which promote cross-strait exchanges, effectively lowering Taiwanese people’s wariness toward PRC. Participants mentioned that many of their friends and classmates, due to the convenience of these policies, have begun to choose to travel to the PRC and find that their differences are not as big as they thought.

When further discussing the prospect of unification between Taiwan and the PRC, the majority expressed support for maintaining the status quo and rejected cross-strait unification. Their reasons mainly revolve around democracy, freedom, lifestyle, national autonomy, and a general suspicion and distrust of the PRC’s political system.

One participant clearly expressed that Taiwan has a more attractive democratic and free system compared to the PRC and believes that even though Taiwan is smaller, it can operate independently without the PRC. They noted that the PRC is an authoritarian country that suppresses freedom of speech and various rights, and its control over the people makes them deeply uneasy. If unification would lead to these outcomes, they firmly choose to maintain the status quo and strongly reject the potential scenario of unification.

“I should think the same way, not accepting the PRC’s claim of unification.”

“My point of view is that I don’t want to be unified. I feel that if, like playing games, there are time limits, for example, we are now able to criticize the government. For instance, if today Tsai Ing-wen does something poorly, like Ko Wen-je being detained, or whatever happens, you can freely speak about it. It doesn’t necessarily require us to worry about what might happen to him, or if anything will happen to you. But if it feels like unification is coming, it’s like nothing can be said. Our idea is that we don’t want to be unified, but we don’t discuss this topic.”

At the same time, many participants displayed a rather powerless and passive attitude toward the topic of cross-strait unification. This sense of powerlessness and passivity might stem from a lack of confidence in Taiwan’s military strength, or it might come from a sense of helplessness about their future lives. More specifically, they felt that regardless of whether unification happens, as ordinary citizens, they have little power to influence such political changes, nor do they believe that their lives would change drastically as a result of a cross-strait unification. Therefore, their views on this issue often reflect a passive attitude of accepting the status quo and avoiding too much involvement. The sense of powerlessness and insensitivity displayed by these participants could be an important focus for future work on this topic.

“If there’s a war, then let’s unify. Once the war starts, I would surrender, minimizing casualties. No need to sacrifice a lot of soldiers, those who charge into battle shouldn’t sacrifice, because we would definitely lose in the end. We don’t have a place to retreat like Ukraine. We would retreat backwards, but we have nowhere to go. After the PRC’s unification, our rights shouldn’t change drastically. Life will just go on as it is. For us, especially for ordinary people like us, life won’t be much different. It won’t be great, but it won’t be that bad either. It’s not like life is great now, so if it gets a bit worse, it doesn’t matter.”

“Actually, I think it’s fine because we can’t win the war anyway, and maybe they won’t even need to fight. If they just keep doing military exercises a few times, we’ll be done. My personal view is that it doesn’t matter because I think the relationship between Taiwan and China is really just a political issue. It’s about differing political ideologies. I actually think there’s no difference between the two unifying, so personally, I think it’s fine.”

One participant suggested that unification could resemble the integration of Hong Kong and Macau into the PRC, where a certain degree of freedom is preserved alongside substantial benefits. This aligns with the PRC government’s long-standing domestic and international narrative, which promises special autonomy rights. Rather than resisting provocations, the participant argued, it would be better to embrace the “goodwill of the motherland.”

As mentioned above, most participants still regard “maintaining the status quo and not unifying” as the top preference. However, while some participants feel powerless and believe life would roughly remain the same after unification, others mentioned the possibility of war was a key factor making their resistance to unification sound passive.

Although some participants held a neutral or negative attitude toward unification, the fear of war still made them more willing to consider it. For example, one participant candidly admitted that although unification might limit freedom of speech or other expressions, the impression left by the Russia-Ukraine war is too terrifying. Weighing the risks, they felt that despite its limitations on freedoms, unification was not an entirely unacceptable option compared to war. This response highlights the intense fear of war among the high school generation, suggesting that maintaining peace may be their top priority.

“For me, as long as there’s no war, peace is fine. But I think most people are inclined toward ‘not unifying.’ The risk of war is very high, because most of us in this generation don’t want war. For example, seeing wars abroad and the conditions of those wars… well… in my generation, my opinion is that I would rather just unify to avoid war. After all, in war, our parents and families might be in danger. I still think family comes first. I don’t want them to be in danger or anything. So, I would choose, yeah, I would choose not to have war, no matter what. Just no war.”

Potential war scenarios with the PRC might be a significant factor influencing many participants’ willingness to resist. Most participants reject unification, furthermore, one participant pointed out that almost no one around them considers unification an acceptable option. However, they also admitted that the fear and anxiety caused by war made people worried. This echoes other participants’ concerns about the risks of war.

This participant mentioned that they saw a related discussion on Dcard, a social networking platform popular among young adults in Taiwan. In the discussion, a netizen sarcastically said that although many people now oppose unification, they might still cry out of fear and seek shelter if a military invasion were to occur. While the participant thought the statement was sarcastic, under the pressure of war, many people might choose to comply in order to avoid persecution or disappearing. However, the participant emphasized that even if reality forces people to surrender, their identification as Taiwanese wouldn’t disappear; it would just shift to private expressions instead of public displays.

When the researchers further asked, “Would high school students be willing to make efforts to prevent military invasion before the war actually breaks out?” Several participants explicitly stated that despite their fear and concern about war, if there were ways to reduce the risk of war and maintain Taiwan’s security, they would be willing to participate and take action.

“I find it hard to give an answer, but personally, I am willing. If necessary, because I had actually considered joining the military academy before — it’s another story. I think although we have national defense courses now and the teachers teach us about this, we don’t usually discuss it. Everyone just sees politicians arguing, or someone doing something. We rarely talk about what we would do if this situation really happens.”

During the interviews and qualitative analysis, researchers found that participants generally lack a clear perception of the threat from the PRC and the actual scenario of a cross-strait conflict.This is not surprising, apart from the pressures they face at school, in terms of academic performance, college admissions, peer relationships, and self-identity, Taiwanese society also lacks effective communication on this issue, making it difficult for them to form a clear understanding of such threats and awareness about how to respond. Therefore, actively promoting related education is crucial to raise civil defense awareness. Through public discussions and social dialogues, we can help the younger generation develop a clearer understanding, gain more information, and develop critical thinking skills. As one participant put it:

“I think, if we really want to know the answer to this question, maybe we should have more discussions about it.”

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

TikTok’s Controversial Content, Negative Reviews, and Potential Impact

Through in-depth interviews and analysis, we discovered that TikTok and Douyin’s influence goes beyond shaping political and public discourse — it also affects broader social and psychological issues. The platform’s content and algorithmic design can negatively impact both physical and mental well-being, particularly among adolescents, heightening their anxiety over managing their social media presence. Additionally, cyberbullying on TikTok and Douyin remains a serious concern. Equally concerning is the presence of explicit content, child exploitation, and fraud, all of which require urgent attention and further investigation.

● Once TikTok plays, parents’ hard work fades away?

Most participants expressed conditional agreement with the statement, “Once TikTok plays, parents’ hard work fades away.[2]” Some argued that the core issue of such criticism lies neither in TikTok or Douyin themselves, nor their content quality, but rather in users’ excessive addiction, which disrupts their daily routines and habits. They emphasized personal responsibility, asserting that as long as the platform is used in moderation, TikTok and Douyin should not be hastily labeled as harmful.

Expanding on this perspective, a high school sophomore shared that TikTok and Douyin addiction could be related to personal life circumstances. For instance, users with small social circles or limited alternative activities in their free time may rely on TikTok and Douyin to fill their spare moments, gradually developing habitual dependency:

“Maybe they just watch it every day. During holidays, there’s not much to do at home, and they don’t have many friends…Then they don’t go out much either, so they can only stay at home and watch their phones because there’s nothing else to do.”

Additionally, some participants mentioned that the negative perception of TikTok and Douyin stems not only from users’ long-term immersion, which disrupts their habits, but also from the platform’s negative content, particularly concerning younger users. Some acknowledged that certain TikTok content, especially low-quality or vulgar videos, could have harmful effects. Several participants pointed out that TikTok is flooded with “8+9” style videos — content that often includes behavior contrary to societal morals, encourages rule-breaking, or implies violence, smoking, drinking, and other harmful activities, which many find off-putting.

Participants acknowledged TikTok and Douyin’s addictive potential and the prevalence of low-quality short-form videos that fail to convey morally correct ideas. While many teens were confident they were unaffected by such content, they generally agreed that these kinds of videos could have a negative impact on younger users during their formative years.

However, many also pointed out that content recommendations are closely tied to users’ viewing behaviors. On one hand, this reinforced the majority view that TikTok’s and Douyin’s algorithms reflect engagement patterns, allowing users to adjust their feeds through the “Not Interested” or “Report” functions. This strong belief in personal control led most participants to separate negative content on TikTok and Douyin from their own experience, concluding that if a user is immersed in an environment which mainly brings negative impacts, it is ultimately the user’s responsibility.

● Thirst trap

In the Doublethink Lab 2025 TikTok User Survey, the researcher also conducted an exploratory analysis of TikTok content pushed to a simulated Taiwanese adolescent user from November 5, 2024, to mid-January 2025. Using a factory-reset iPhone SE, they registered a TikTok international version account with a new email, set to a 14-year-old profile located in Taiwan. During this period, the researcher utilized the phone’s recording feature to capture the content actively pushed by TikTok, analysing the platform’s algorithms and content distribution.

In the initial phase of using the account, researchers noted that, besides receiving typical marketing content and occasional political videos, the platform frequently promoted dance videos from female students across Taiwan. However, many of these dance videos included what is commonly referred to as “thirst trap videos[3].” Beyond the concern that thirst trap content might be shown to underage users, participants reported that some of these videos were created and uploaded by youth themselves. Several participants observed that on TikTok and Douyin, it has become common for high school and even elementary school students to post videos wearing revealing clothing, intentionally displaying their bodies, or performing sexually suggestive actions.

“I feel like many people are filming this, and the age group is actually quite young, probably middle school or high school.”

Participants also mentioned that some elementary school students, particularly those in first and second grade, have started creating similar content with potentially sexual dance, or lifting their clothes, leading viewers to make sexualized interpretations. These behaviors are often rationalized as “just normal dancing.” Some observed that such videos make up a significant portion of content on these TikTok accounts — often eight or nine out of ten random videos. This indicates that TikTok’s recommendation algorithm not only promotes this content to youth users but also encourages imitation among youth creators, amplifying the negative impact.

“I see a lot of this now, and the age keeps getting younger. Some elementary school first and second graders have already started filming the Douyin/TikTok dances, shaking their butts. And then, people say that we, as little kids, are just dancing and being flirtatious, saying it’s normal dancing, but they’re lifting their clothes. It’s strange seeing an elementary school kid lifting their clothes for others to look at. That’s why people think the Douyin culture is bad.”

The researcher believes that when underage users, influenced by social media culture, regard borderline or naked content as “normal expression” and actively participate in creating it, it can worsen their understanding of their self-image and personal boundaries. This behavior also blurs the line between childhood and adulthood. Furthermore, the platform’s algorithm could increase the likelihood of youth users creating and consuming such content, turning it into a widely imitated and reinforced trend. If left unaddressed, this phenomenon could have long-term negative effects on underage users’ physical and mental development, potentially leading to more serious child protection concerns.

It is also worth noting that borderline pornographic content on TikTok is often linked to issues like child sexual exploitation[4][5] and scams. Take the TikTok account shown in the image below as an example (which has been reported to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Sexual Image Processing Center and iWIN Internet Content Protection Agency). While it is difficult to verify whether the operator of this Traditional Chinese-language account actually resides in Zhongli District as claimed, or if image editing or filters were used to create a childlike appearance, a visual assessment suggests that the individual’s age likely falls within the elementary to middle school range.

The channel, in addition to frequently sharing revealing and sexually suggestive dance content, also operates a Patreon account selling private footage and used underwear. This raises concerns about child sexual imagery and may involve fraudulent products or deceptive tactics used to lure victims into sharing sexual private footage through online friendships, video chats, and other means, leading to blackmail. Furthermore, as such accounts are not isolated incidents, there is a risk of group-based child sexual exploitation and organized fraud.

● Deviant behavior and value distortion

Deviant behavior on TikTok is not uncommon, especially the extreme behaviors displayed in some short videos. One participant noted that some users engage in violent behavior targeting vulnerable groups. This content not only harms the victims but also risks normalizing such actions for viewers. Several participants also raised concerns about privacy violations. Some channel operators, under the guise of scripted videos or challenges, invade others’ privacy and publicly share these actions on the platform. As one participant described:

“Recently, there’s a viral trend where people secretly follow others to their homes, and when I saw that video, I felt very uncomfortable. Even though they later explained that it was scripted, it still felt unpleasant, and the other person was a girl, and the person filming was a guy wearing stockings over his head, and it was in the middle of the night. It made me feel really uncomfortable. This kind of content could potentially inspire others to imitate it. Recently, there are also a lot of drone videos tracking cats and dogs, and some even track children. It’s just really scary and bad.”

Although some creators argue these videos are scripted, the deviant behavior they depict, both emotionally disturbing and legally questionable, can have a profound negative impact, especially on minors. They also risk confusing viewers about the concept of privacy, normalizing stalking, invading others’ privacy or even harassment. Participants also mentioned underage pregnancy content on TikTok, often presented in a boastful manner, potentially influencing younger audiences to adopt distorted views on the subject.

“Students from [certain] high schools. There’s no offense, really, because many of my middle school friends ended up like this, or like middle school girls getting pregnant at maybe 16 or 17, and bragging about it and posting on TikTok.”

In recent years, TikTok has been under scrutiny for promoting dangerous challenges, including the Skull Breaker Challenge (2020), the Blackout Challenge (2021), the Benadryl Challenge (2023), and ongoing self-harm or self-injury challenges. One participant shared their family and friends’ experience, mentioning that TikTok frequently features content related to depression and self-harm, which could negatively impact young users. They suggested that such challenges might be misinterpreted as an emotional outlet and even perceived as “cool” behavior.

Taken together, the deviant behavior and value distortions present on TikTok and Douyin not only negatively impact individual behavior but may also contribute to the normalization of harmful behavior or conduct, especially among young people. The promotion of violence, privacy violations, underage pregnancy, and self-harm can distort youth perception and lead them to emulate such behaviors, ignoring their potential risks and ethical implications. This report calls for greater attention to these issues and urges platforms to take more proactive measures to address them.

● The Impact of cyberbullying on mental and physical health

Some participants also noted the prevalence of aggressive language and cyberbullying on TikTok, which could further contribute to increased anxiety and depression among users. One participant noted that TikTok’s comment sections are frequently filled with aggressive remarks, sometimes even mocking single-parent families or expressing misogyny. For example, they recalled comments like: “5678 single mothers[6].” That sort of an attacking language is very common. Moreover, appearance-shaming was mentioned as even more widespread: “A lot of comments are about calling people fat or ugly, that kind of thing, related to appearance.” These kinds of comments not only affect the self-esteem of those targeted but can also cause psychological distress for some users.

The low barrier to entry has contributed to an influx of anonymous accounts, further fueling malicious attacks. Since users don’t need to verify their identity, individuals can easily create new accounts and freely make derogatory comments. These anonymous attacks often escalate into appearance-based shaming and targeted bullying at specific groups.

Such attacks have gone beyond criticizing specific content or individual users, becoming internet violence fueled by anonymity. Over time, this hostile environment has normalized bullying and public shaming, even targeting users who are simply sharing their daily lives. This not only empowers those spreading negativity but also drives victims into helplessness and self-doubt, exacerbating anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

As this toxic culture becomes more entrenched, the information environment on TikTok deteriorates. Online discourse may shift away from open expression toward malicious behavior. For younger users, long-term exposure to hate speech and discriminatory language risks damaging their self-worth and internalizing online hostility as normal. This may deepen the acceptance of bullying, with lasting effects on individual psychological development and social norms.

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

How Taiwanese youth view the ban and regulation of TikTok

The majority of the participants in this study opposed a complete ban on TikTok in Taiwan. As mentioned in previous sections, many believed that TikTok and Douyin offer a temporary escape from daily monotony. They primarily watch light and entertaining content, such as cute animals and entertainment videos, rather than political content or propaganda. They also reported frequently using the “Not Interested” and “Report” features to adjust the algorithm, ensuring that the content they watch aligns with their personal preferences. They felt confident in their ability to control what they viewed.

Some participants argued that even if addiction is an issue, it is an individual responsibility rather than the platform’s fault. They believed that focus management is an individual responsibility, and if someone struggles to concentrate, it may be due to factors such as lack of interest, life stress, emotional factors, or even other entertainment activities like gaming, rather than TikTok or Douyin alone. Some emphasized the importance of self-discipline and managing usage time reasonably.

“I don’t think so, because I think it’s a very personal issue of self-discipline.”

Researchers also observed a sense of helplessness and indifference among some participants. They felt that banning TikTok and Douyin was unnecessary and viewed it as an infringement of their rights, yet they also expressed indifference to the idea of those rights being taken away. Several youth shared thoughts like, “If there’s a dangerous challenge, let those who want to try it do it. It has nothing to do with me” and “Anyway, I don’t use TikTok as frequently now, so banning it doesn’t matter to me.”

Many participants believed that, as a democratic society, Taiwan’s core value should be ensuring that people have the right to access all kinds of information. They felt that the government should not rush to restrict media or interfere with people’s freedom to choose social media platforms, as doing so would be akin to censorship systems in authoritarian countries. They were concerned that excessive government intervention in the media environment would limit access to diverse perspectives and people would only view government-approved information. They specifically pointed out that banning TikTok and Douyin solely due to security concerns would resemble the Chinese government’s censorship practices.

“I think this is just like in Mainland China. For example, if you post something on Weibo, it will be seen by the government or something like that. This can’t be posted, that can’t be posted. It’s the same as in China. Actually, even though we are not unified, the things we do are already quite similar to what they do.”

Although some participants expressed concerns about the national security and unification issues tied to TikTok and Douyin, they felt that banning these platforms might not effectively counteract the PRC’s influence. However, they generally agreed that the platforms’ other potential negative impacts were worth addressing. They believed that social media platforms should take more proactive management responsibility, establishing better review and reporting mechanisms to reduce such impact from the harmful trends. Meanwhile, in response to TikTok’s management responsibilities in these areas, the government should regulate the platforms appropriately to ensure that they implement measures to protect users while preventing harmful content from spreading due to the influence of algorithms.

“Actually, I strongly agree that creators should take responsibility for the content they make. But when it comes to TikTok’s content promotion, even though they might loosen restrictions, some people deliberately change their age to see strange content. But I think there should be some identity verification in there, to prove you’re over 18 or something, so they know what content to show to them and what not to show. TikTok and social media platforms should take on this responsibility too.”

Many participants believed that younger users are more easily influenced by TikTok content, which could affect their behavior and even lead them to view it as a social standard. Some shared that their younger siblings had started imitating inappropriate behaviors, like showing the middle finger or swearing, after spending long periods on TikTok. This suggests the potential impact of such content on children’s behavioral development. Some participants pointed out that the online environment is filled with verbal attacks and inappropriate content, and that younger users may lack the necessary judgment to distinguish right from wrong, making them more susceptible to misleading or imitative behavior. Consequently, some participants supported stricter restrictions for younger users and believed the government should establish clear regulations to ensure appropriate usage standards.

Some participants further emphasized that older users typically have the ability to filter information and avoid negative impacts, but younger groups might blindly accept information without thinking critically. Therefore, moderate restrictions would not only help reduce negative impacts but also ensure that young users develop independent judgment skills as they grow, minimizing the influence of social media on their behavior and values.

This study shows that most participants opposed banning TikTok and Douyin, believing that these platforms provide entertainment and practical knowledge, and individuals should have the autonomy to choose what content to watch. They did not see TikTok as a tool for political brainwashing but rather as a means of everyday relaxation. Some participants acknowledged that the platform might affect concentration and lead to addiction, but they believed it could be managed with self-discipline. However, some participants expressed indifference toward the ban, seeing it as an infringement of their rights but feeling that it wouldn’t affect them much, reflecting a sense of helplessness that might warrant further discussion.

From a democratic and freedom-based perspective, most participants emphasized that the government should not interfere with people’s right to choose social media platforms and expressed concerns that a ban could undermine Taiwan’s democratic values, possibly resembling the information censorship practices of authoritarian countries. Although most of them did not support the ban and were cautious about the national security concerns related to TikTok, they still expressed concern about the platform’s harmful content, especially dangerous challenges, inappropriate videos, and fraudulent information, which could potentially affect young people. Despite opposing the ban, participants still supported government regulation of the platforms, advocating for the establishment of more comprehensive guidelines to reduce the impact of harmful content on users.

Conclusion

Doublethink Lab and affiliated researchers urge broader participation from organizations, advocacy groups, and institutions in examining TikTok’s negative influences and developing concrete response measures and policy adjustments. Establishing mechanisms for a social dialogue to deepen discussions about TikTok’s potential impact is essential.

The researcher has also observed that the high school generation is not only significantly influenced by PRC pop culture and linguistic expressions in their spoken language but also shows a reserved attitude toward resisting PRC cultural influence. Notably, some participants even expressed a degree of approval toward the PRC’s “Century of Humiliation” narrative and its associated collective identity and commemorative actions. Others viewed controversial content and deviant behaviors on TikTok and Douyin as violations of morality from the perspective of their perceived “Chinese” identity. This finding could present a key challenge regarding the national identity of Taiwan’s younger generation.

This raises an important question: Does Taiwan still lack a collective identity that shapes society’s understanding of current democratic values? Is it still in the process of constructing this identity, which makes it difficult for Taiwanese society to form a firm consensus in the face of the PRC’s threats of invasion and unification, thereby hindering the willingness to fully comprehend and accept the cost of defending democracy?

Taiwan has faced external influence for centuries, from various colonial powers, including the Dutch, Spanish, Qing, and Japanese. After World War II, the Chinese Nationalist government (KMT) retreated to Taiwan in 1949 following its defeat in the Chinese Civil War, imposing 38 years of martial law. The White Terror and enforced “Chinese” identity education during this period profoundly shaped Taiwanese society. The KMT’s “One China” framework and emphasis on Taiwan’s historical connection to China created a complex space for exploring Taiwanese identity, providing opportunities for the Chinese Communist Party’s united front narratives to gain traction. While Taiwan has transitioned to democracy after martial law was lifted, unfinished transitional justice regarding the White Terror and authoritarian rule has left the public with limited understanding and identification with the democratic system. Efforts to jump out from the “Chinese” identity constructed during authoritarian rule and to build a Taiwanese identity rooted in Taiwan’s own subjectivity presents significant challenges. A stable national identity is crucial to safeguard Taiwan’s democratic system; without it, Taiwan may face challenges in sustaining its political institutions and may be more susceptible to externally imposed identities.

Without such an understanding, Taiwanese society may struggle to recognize the potential risks of returning to authoritarianism and its devastating impact on existing democratic structures. As the PRC’s long-term united front strategy and information manipulation continue to shape narratives of “Taiwan’s democracy in chaos” and “painless unification” — emphasizing that life would remain stable after unification while contrasting it with the PRC’s military threats and war imagery from conflicts like the war in Ukraine — Taiwanese society, without a deep understanding of democratic principles, Taiwanese society may find it difficult to defend the democratic system at all costs.

To address these challenges, Taiwan urgently needs a cross-sector dialogue and collective exploration and reconstruction of its national identity to build a broad consensus on the value and meaning of democracy. This, in turn, will strengthen the overall cognitive resilience of society to address potential challenges.

This responsibility does not rest solely on politicians or democracy advocates. We need a cross-sector and whole-of-society approach to strategic communication — one that evolves dynamically and persists despite obstacles.

The Impact of TikTok on Taiwanese Youth and PRC Perceptions — A 2025 TikTok User Study full report

Research Limitations

Sample Size and Diversity

This study was conducted in collaboration with Taiwanese cultural and educational non-profit organizations. Random sampling was carried out in partner schools across northern, central, and southern Taiwan, and three schools were selected. Despite efforts to invite young TikTok and Douyin users from different genders, grades, and disciplines, recruitment was ultimately based on voluntary participation. While some diversity was achieved among the participants, limitations in sample size and gender balance may still affect the generalizability of the findings.

Time Constraints

The limited duration of the qualitative interviews also pose a significant constraint. Each interview lasted for approximately 60 minutes, which may not have allowed researchers and participants enough time to fully explore the issues, potentially resulting in the omission of some details.

Interview Relationship

During the qualitative data collection process, potential limitations may be caused by the dynamics and frame of the interview, including the object relations between participants and researcher. Participants may have responded based on their perceptions of the researchers or their expectations of the “participant” role, rather than solely on personal experiences and facts. Although the researchers made efforts to avoid leading questions in the interview design and implementation, this aspect of the research limitation still cannot be ignored.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Associate Professor Hsiu-hua Shen from the Institute of Sociology at National Tsing Hua University for her valuable suggestions and ideas during the planning phase, particularly in the areas of interview design, research logic, and subsequent analysis. We also extend our gratitude to the local non-profit cultural and educational organizations and social work professionals who assisted Doublethink Lab with school outreach and provided valuable feedback throughout the research and interview design process.

We would also like to thank the teachers from the three schools in northern, central, and southern Taiwan for their help in recruiting participants and coordinating the interviews. Also thank Alda Andersen for helping this English report. Finally, we are deeply grateful to the sixteen students who assisted and participated in the interviews. Without their participation and help, this research report would not have been possible.

All matters arising from this project and report are the sole responsibility of Doublethink Lab.

Contact us

• Doublethink Lab: [email protected]
• SE researcher/ Eric Hsu: [email protected]

Footnotes

1. The United Front Work Department (UFWD) is a department of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) tasked with “united front work”. The UFWD focuses its work on people or entities that are outside the CCP, especially in the overseas Chinese diaspora, who hold political, commercial, or academic influence, or who represent interest groups. Through its efforts, the UFWD seeks to ensure that these individuals and groups are supportive of or useful to CCP interests and that potential critics remain divided.
2. “Once TikTok plays, parents’ hard work fades away” — this popular internet phrase among Chinese speakers satirically describes how some young people are seen to lose their ethics, dignity, or critical thinking after becoming obsessed with TikTok or Douyin. The phrase suggests that becoming hooked on short-form content and the pursuit of likes, fame, and low-quality content can negate the efforts of parents in raising and educating them. It reflects broader social anxieties around internet addiction, values distortion, and the perceived moral decay associated with viral media culture.
3. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, thirst trap content is a statement by or photograph of someone on social media that is intended to attract attention or make people who see it sexually interested in them. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/thirst-trap
4. How Algorithms Play a Role in Child Sexual Exploitation on TikTok https://www.wsj.com/video/series/tech-news-briefing/how-algorithms-play-a-role-in-child-sexual-exploitation-on-tiktok/B0B19C6F-E230-46B0-A887-A357BC826E5A?mod=WSJvidctr__pos0
5. Student Blog Series: TikTok and the Growing Media Exploitation of Minors https://cseinstitute.org/tiktok-and-the-growing-media-exploitation-of-minors/
6. “5678單親媽媽/ 5678 single mothers” is a popular phrase that originated from a song on TikTok. It carries a misogynistic undertone, often used to mock women and, in particular, to disparage single mothers in a derogatory way.