Back to writings
Academic PaperAwaiting publicationJune 2025· 4 min read

How TikTok's Maximalist Design Affects Gen Z's Emotional and Cognitive Engagement

This study examines the connection between TikTok's maximalist design and Generation Z's emotional and cognitive engagement through a systematic literature review. The synthesis uncovers a perplexing trade-off: TikTok's design induces states of intense emotional arousal and flow, while simultaneously producing high cognitive load that inhibits analytic thinking.