TikTok Appearance Standard Trends on College Students' Self-Image in the Digital Era: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

The development of visual-based social media, particularly on the TikTok app, indicates that new appearance standards can influence the self-image of students in the digital age. TikTok is not only a source of entertainment but also a means of shaping self-perception through visual content, algorithms, recommendations, and repetitive aesthetic trends. This study aims to analyze the development of research on the impact of TikTok appearance standards on student self-image through a bibliometric analysis. The method used was descriptive bibliometrics, with four main stages: identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. The search was conducted using the keywords appearance standards, body image, university student, and TikTok in the Scopus database. The results of the study show that publications relevant to this topic are concentrated in 2025, indicating an increase in academic attention to the impact of TikTok on students' self- image. Citation trends show a growing scientific contribution, although the number is still limited. Mapping the focus of research using VOSviewer shows that issues of body image, digital beauty standards, and psychological aspects such as anxiety and self-esteem are dominant themes. In addition, the novelty of this research is demonstrated by the shift in focus from social media in general to TikTok as an algorithm-based visual platform. This study confirms that TikTok plays a significant role in shaping students' appearance standards and self-image, thus requiring a more critical and wise approach to digital media literacy in the use of social media among students.