Overview
TikTok: Circular Consumption is a collaborative investigative journalism project examining how TikTok’s algorithm, influencer culture, and disclosure practices shape consumer behavior. Through original reporting, surveys, and visual analysis, the project interrogates how virality blurs the line between organic recommendation and advertising—and what that means for transparency, trust, and consumption.
Developed for an investigative journalism course at The New School, the project was produced as a print-first editorial format that combines reporting, interviews, and data visualization.
Layout Design by Katie Pruden. Additional Writing by Danielle Hoppenheim.
The Question
How does TikTok’s algorithmic design encourage cycles of consumption—and how clearly can users distinguish between authentic recommendations and paid advertising?
My Role
Reporting & interviews
Data collection and analysis (student surveys on ad transparency)
Topic research and development
