Problem
TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to film and share 15-second video clips. The site is wildly popular (boasting over 1 billion users as of 2021). While many of the videos are innocuous, there have been many dangerous "TikTok Challenges" resulting in the harm or death of several users. You can do a quick internet search of "dangerous TikTok challenges" to learn more. While it's easy to say "Kids today..." when it comes to these types of behaviors, we see these trends throughout history. Teenagers in the 1930's swallowed goldfish, those in the 1950's participated in phone booth stuffing, and teens in the 1970's participated in wild and reckless stunts inspired by Evel Knievel.
Why do we see users so likely to engage in these types of behaviors? Is this an example of informational conformity, normative conformity, or a combination of the two?