Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

The Impact and Challenges of TikTok in Intercultural Communication

Hanzhi ZhangThe High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

With the rapid rise of short-video platforms, TikTok has become an important medium for intercultural communication. Its algorithmic recommendation and user co-creation mechanisms have not only transformed modes of content dissemination but created new opportunities for marginalized and cultures in remote areas to gain visibility on the global stage. However, this process is accompanied by multiple challenges, including data privacy, platform censorship, and cultural localization. This study investigates the impact of TikTok on intercultural communication and the associated political, legal, and cultural challenges. By analyzing TikTok’s mechanisms of content production, algorithmic recommendation, and user interaction, it examines the ways in which the platform enhances cultural visibility, promotes intercultural exchange, and shapes globally circulated cultural phenomena. The results indicate that TikTok, by lowering creation barriers, strengthening interactive features, and using interest-based distribution, has enhanced the global dissemination of marginalized cultures, supported cross-cultural exchange and integration, and influenced cultural identity and social participation. Moreover, its global expansion encounters governance pressures, where striking a balance between global governance and local compliance emerges as a key challenge for sustainable development.

Keywords: TikTok cross-cultural communication; Algorithmic recommendation; User Generated Content (UGC); Digital platform governance
Published: October 14, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.KM27637
Volume: CHR Vol.86
pp. 179-185
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