Thesis title
 For You: An analysis of TikTok recommendation system

Research Description
This study investigates how TikTok’s algorithmic curation and recommender systems shape the cultural experiences of Australian audiences. It explores how these systems influence the content users encounter and how Australian users understand, negotiate, and reflect on these processes. Using a combination of personal data donated by TikTok users and in-depth interviews, this study seeks to understand how TikTok’s recommender systems shape the cultural experiences of Australian users, questioning whether users are exposed to a broad range of content or are increasingly isolated in algorithmic bubbles. Ultimately, it aims to answer whether TikTok fosters a shared culture through its algorithmic recommendations and how the platform’s personalization affects users’ sense of cultural engagement.

Supervisors
Prof Patrik Wikstrom, QUT
Prof Jean Burgess, QUT
Dr Ariadna Matamoros-Fernández, QUT

Dr Silvia Montaña-Niño, QUT
Prof Jean Burgess, QUT