The dissertation will be available for public inspection in a digital version before the defence. To obtain a digital version of the dissertation, please contact         

Amanda Skovsager Mouritsen at asm@cc.au.dk, no later than two days before the defence.

The defence will be conducted in English and is open to the public.

Assessment Committee

• Stine Liv Johansen, Associate Professor, School of Communication and Culture - Børnelitteratur, Aarhus University (Chair)
• Kim Christian Schrøder, Professor, Department of Communication and Arts, Roskilde University
• Marika Lüders, Professor, Department of Media and Communication - Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo

Main Supervisor

• Pia Majbritt Jensen, Associate Professor, School of Communication and Culture - Media Studies, Aarhus University

Co-supervisor

• Anja Bechmann, Professor, School of Communication and Culture - Media Studies, Aarhus University

Abstract

This PhD dissertation explores TikTok from a user-centric perspective by examining how young Danes (aged 15–29) use, experience, and make sense of the platform as part of their everyday media practices. Situated within the tradition of media reception research and through a research design combining mobile data donation and in-depth interviews, the dissertation approaches TikTok primarily as a lived media environment shaped through users’ engagement, interpretations, and experiences. The overarching research question guiding the project is: How is TikTok embedded in young Danes’ everyday lives, and how do they make sense of the platform as part of their media practices? The dissertation addresses this question through three analytical dimensions: (1) the content and digital culture encountered by young Danes on TikTok, (2) young Danes’ everyday practices and motivations for using the platform, and (3) young Danes’ experiences and perceptions of TikTok as a media platform. By integrating these dimensions, the project provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of TikTok as an influential part of contemporary digital media culture.