BIO

I am currently majoring in Psychology and minoring in Child Development, planning to graduate May 2025. Since August 2023, I've interned as a research assistant for two labs, immersing myself in intriguing research projects at FSU. Being part of the university honors program has been an honor as well, allowing me to maintain a 3.9 GPA while exploring various academic avenues.

The Influence of TikTok on the Attitudes of Young Adult Towards Eating Behavior

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of TikTok on young adult eating behavior and the objectives consisted of analyzing the algorithm that TikTok utilizes for promoting food-related videos, evaluating the various video formats that include food in some form, and gaining an understanding of the effect that this social media app has on the eating behaviors of young adults. “Food influencer” marketing is a new frontier in the marketing space, and research such as this brings into question how these social influencers that market a food brand may need more policies for more explicitly stated brand deals in the future.The study process began with an in-depth analysis of the current literature on social media and eating behaviors of young adults. A qualitative research approach was then used and a number of participants were interviewed on their social media usage, eating habits, and interaction with food-related posts. The interviews took place over Zoom, with discussions lasting 30-45 minutes. This study is significant in its promotion of an understanding on how technology, particularly social applications such as TikTok, impacts college students’ eating behaviors and self perception of their physical appearance. We hope to find evidence that supports our beliefs that social media plays a role in eating habits and perception of self. The implications of this study allow social media platforms and its users to consider the risks of benefits of frequent usage of food related media.

Keywords: TikTok, Food, Eating Behaviors