MEDIA REGULATION CASE STUDYS

TIKTOK CASE STUDY: Algorithms, Privacy and Platform Power (3).

1. According to BBC News and DuckDuckGo, TikTok trackers appear on approximately 5% of the world’s top websites.

2. Google trackers appear on almost 72% of top websites and Meta trackers on around 21%.

say it like: TikTok is one of the major digital media industries involved in online surveillance and data collection, with trackers appearing on around 5% of the world’s top websites, behind Google and Meta Platforms.

1. According to BBC News, on 22 January 2026, TikTok introduced a new tracking “pixel” allowing companies to follow users after leaving TikTok and making purchases on other websites.

What this demonstrates

• TikTok collects large amounts of user data to strengthen algorithms and advertising systems.

• Algorithms are used to personalise content, maximise engagement and increase corporate profit.

• Raises concerns regarding:

  • privacy

  • surveillance

  • audience manipulation

  • platform power

Theory links

• James Curran & Jean Seaton

  • Media industries are dominated by corporations motivated by profit and power.

TIKTOK CASE STUDY: Mental Health Concerns and Addictive Algorithms (2)

1. According to a 2024 systematic review published in the National Library of Medicine involving more than 11,000 participants, frequent TikTok use was strongly associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, especially among users under 24.

2. The study also found problematic TikTok use was more common among female users and emotionally vulnerable individuals.

What this demonstrates

• TikTok’s personalised algorithm and endless scrolling design may encourage:

  • excessive screen time

  • addictive behaviour

  • compulsive usage

  • negative mental health effects

TIKTOK CASE STUDY: Harmful Beauty Standards and Eating Disorder Content. (1)

1. According to Euronews, a 2024 study found that watching just 8 minutes of pro-anorexia TikTok content negatively affected body image satisfaction among women aged 18–28.

What this demonstrates

• TikTok’s algorithm repeatedly exposes audiences to harmful beauty standards and eating disorder-related content.

• Repeated exposure may negatively shape self-esteem and audience perceptions.

Theory links

• George Gerbner

  • Cultivation theory argues repeated media exposure shapes audiences’ views of reality over time

ANDREW TATE CASE STUDY: Andrew Tate, Hate Speech and Audience Influence. (3)

1. Andrew Tate became extremely popular on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube through content promoting misogynistic and hyper-masculine views.

2. Critics argued his content normalised sexism, objectification of women and toxic masculinity.

3. TikTok’s algorithm promoted his highly provocative short-form content, increasing visibility among younger audiences.

4. According to YouGov, “one in six boys aged 6–15 have a positive view of Andrew Tate.”

How to say it:

Andrew Tate became highly popular on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube through content promoting misogynistic and hyper-masculine views. Critics argued that his content normalised sexism, the objectification of women and toxic masculinity. Social media algorithms amplified his provocative short-form videos, increasing their visibility among younger audiences. According to YouGov, one in six boys aged 6–15 held a positive view of Andrew Tate, suggesting the significant influence controversial online figures can have on youth audiences.

What this demonstrates

• Social media algorithms can rapidly spread harmful ideologies and controversial influencers.

• Younger audiences may be influenced by repeated exposure to toxic attitudes and behaviour.

Theory links

• Albert Bandura

  • Media effects theory suggests audiences may imitate behaviours and attitudes repeatedly observed in media content.

ANDREW TATE CASE STUDY: Deplatforming, Regulation and the Freedom of Speech Debate. (2)

1. In 2022, platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube removed or restricted Andrew Tate’s accounts for violating hate speech and harmful content policies.

2. According to Bloomberg Law, Meta successfully defended itself against Tate’s lawsuit regarding his Instagram ban.

What this demonstrates

• Social media platforms increasingly use:

  • self-regulation

  • content moderation

  • deplatforming
    to protect audiences from harmful content.

• However, this also creates debate surrounding:

  • censorship

  • freedom of speech

  • corporate control over public communication

Theory links

Sonia Livingstone & Peter Lunt

Livingstone and Lunt argue that self-regulation is complex because digital platforms must balance free expression, user safety and commercial profit at the same time.

So self-regulation is complex because platforms like TikTok are acting almost like global regulators themselves, but they are also businesses trying to maximize attention and profit.

SPOTIFY AND NETFLIX CASE STUDY: Positive Uses of Algorithms in Digital Media. (2)

1. Platforms such as Spotify and Netflix use personalised algorithms to recommend content based on users’ interests and viewing habits.

2. Examples include Spotify’s “Discover Weekly” playlists and Netflix’s recommended viewing categories.

What this demonstrates

• Algorithms are not inherently harmful and can improve:

  • user experience

  • convenience

  • content discovery

  • creator visibility

Theory links

• Partially evaluates James Curran & Jean Seaton by suggesting algorithms can also improve audience experience rather than solely maximise corporate power and profit.

TIKTOK CASE STUDY INTRODUCTION (1)

1. According to Statista, TikTok is one of the largest and most influential social media platforms in the world. In 2025, the app had around 1.59 billion global users, with projections estimating growth to 1.9 billion by 2029.