Augmenting TikTok shop adoption: The mediating role of KOCs in live streaming, video content, and AI recommendations

Abstract

There is a growing trend of social media networks transitioning into channels primarily focused on providing entertainment content. This research used the Uses and Gratifications (U&G) theory to examine the manner in which individuals transition from other platforms to TikTok with regards to their engagement in entertainment and self-publishing of videos. Key Opinion Consumers (KOCs) are individuals who provide evaluations from the consumer’s perspective. This emerging trend involves the creation of online review videos, which aligns with the evolving nature of e-commerce platforms. An online survey was administered to enlist a total of 251 individuals who are active users of the social media platform TikTok. The recruitment process included an online network sampling approach. The results of our study indicate that factors such as video lengths, live streaming, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms for recommendation have a substantial impact on the use of TikTok. The findings indicate that KOCs play a crucial role in mediating TikTok use patterns and uptake. This research enhances the comprehension of media use within the framework of uses and gratification, both in terms of theoretical and empirical aspects.