GEN-Z SURABAYA COMMUNICATION STYLE ON TIKTOK PLATFORM: A CASE STUDY OF VISUAL AND NONVERBAL EXPRESSION
Keywords:
TikTok, cimmunication styles, youth, phenomenology, social media, visual expressionAbstract
TikTok as a visual social media platform has become a new space for teenagers to express themselves and interact socially. This study aims to analyze changes in the communication styles of urban teenagers who actively use TikTok, particularly in terms of verbal, nonverbal, and visual expressions. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study involved ten teenage informants aged 20–23 years in Surabaya who actively use TikTok for at least one hour per day. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews and participatory observation, then analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The results show three main themes: adaptation of language and visual symbols, dominance of nonverbal communication, and the influence of trends on performative behavior. This study confirms that TikTok dynamically shapes youth communication styles and highlights the urgent need for digital media literacy.
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