THE IMPACT OF USING TIKTOK SOCIAL MEDIA ON THE LEARNING INTEREST OF AL-AZHAR MEDAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The use of TikTok social media among adolescents has grown rapidly from merely an entertainment platform to a medium for sharing educational content. This study aims to analyze the impact of using TikTok social media on the learning interest of SMA Al-Azhar Medan students. A comparative quantitative approach was employed to compare two dimensions of impact: the Educational-Motivations Dimension (lesson comprehension and learning interest attraction) and the Distraction-Time Management Dimension (learning neglect and reduced study time). Data were gathered through a Google Forms online questionnaire distributed to 83–84 student respondents at SMA Al-Azhar Medan. The findings revealed that in the Educational-Motivation Dimension, the majority of students experienced a very high positive impact: 78.6% stated TikTok influenced their learning interest, 88.1% felt helped in understanding school lessons, and 89.2% became more interested in studying due to educational content on TikTok. Conversely, in the Distraction-Time Management Dimension, 63.9% of students felt that time spent on TikTok reduced their study time, and 48.2% admitted it caused them to neglect their studies. Comparative analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05), indicating that the educational benefits of TikTok are perceived more strongly than its distracting effects, although time management remains a challenge. The study concludes that TikTok serves as an effective informal learning tool but requires self-management strategies and digital literacy guidance.