The Influence of the "Marriage is Scary" TikTok Trend on Adolescents' Marriage Decision-Making

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of the viral "Marriage is Scary" TikTok trend on the marriage decision-making of adolescents in Surabaya. Framed by Agenda Setting and Standpoint Theories, short-form video exposure depicting domestic conflict, financial insecurity, and burnout was analyzed regarding youth commitment expectations. Empirical data were collected via structured questionnaires administered to active adolescent TikTok users in Surabaya (). Statistical testing confirmed a strong positive relationship between trend exposure and marriage decision-making (), with regression analysis showing that engagement with the trend explains  () of the variance in adolescent marital decisions. Repeated exposure to risk-heavy narratives fosters acute anxiety, prompting youth to re-evaluate traditional milestones or delay marriage. Practically, these findings emphasize the need for targeted digital literacy and pre-marital counseling programs to equip adolescents with realistic relationship skills and financial planning tools, empowering them to make informed choices rather than algorithmically driven decisions.