The Motivation and Experience of TikTok Users in Utilizing the App for Watching Film Clips: A Study in the Greater Jakarta Region

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to understand the motivation and viewing experience of TikTok users who utilize the app to watch film clips. Study Design: This research used the constructivism paradigm, applying the Uses and Gratifications theory, which observes how TikTok Users use and become entertained and gratified when watching film clips by using the app. Place and Duration of Study: Greater Jakarta region, Indonesia, from January to April 2025. Methodology: The qualitative research method and the phenomenology research strategy were used for this study. Four TikTok users, spending more than two hours a day on the app and residing in the Greater Jakarta area, were interviewed as informants. Results: The four informants have similarities and differences in their experiences watching film clips on TikTok. The similarities are that everyone is motivated to use TikTok as something that can fill their free time, gets pleasure when using it, agrees that the film clips shown on the app tend to be engaging, and is happy when they can find the continuation of the initial film clip they are watching at that moment. Informants have some understanding of copyright issues but are also not too bothered by it. Meanwhile, the differences include their film preferences, how they use the engagement features of the app, and their preferences to stay on the app or to move to another device when watching the film.  Conclusion: TikTok can offer engaging short videos that can make its users happy and feel gratified when using it. It has also altered the way its users consume media. However, copyright issues are still yet to be resolved.