The thesis titled Algorithmic Interaction Ritual Chains on TikTok: Scrolling through Feedback Loops explores how every like, skip, or watch on TikTok sends signals to the platform’s recommendation system. These actions form feedback loops, ongoing exchanges between users and algorithms that determine what content shows up next.
Interaction between users and algorithms
David Bazan Royuela introduces the concept of algorithmic interaction ritual chains - a sociological model for how users and algorithms co-create meaningful experiences. It’s not just about what you watch, it’s about how that content resonates emotionally and culturally.
What inspired you to study TikTok and algorithmic feedback loops?
“As a sociologist, I find it fascinating to see how many of the processes that sociology has traditionally studied now are delegated to or mediated by algorithms. I believe that sociology is essential for explaining the implications of these changes for society.”
In the case of TikTok he became interested in the app because algorithmic recommendations are central to how it works.
“Unlike other algorithmic processes, such as applying for a loan, TikTok gives users a somewhat greater capacity to influence the kind of content they see on their phones. It is precisely this process, the interaction between user and algorithm, that I wanted to study. Moreover, when you realise that what appears on the screens of people’s phones is connected with their interests, cultural capital or life circumstances, it becomes even more interesting to study.”
Using digital ethnography, the research shows that what grabs our attention on TikTok is tied to our moods, routines, and the emotional vibe of the content. Rather than seeing users as passive consumers, the thesis argues that we actively shape our feeds.
Challenges along the way
There were many obstacles in the process according to David Bazan Royuela. One of the main challenges was how to extend concepts originally designed to study interactions between people to the specificities of interactions between people and algorithms. Another challenge was how to create a space of trust with research participants.
“Some public discourses frame TikTok simply as a mindless activity where people scroll through silly dances, but on the platform there is a great variety of content. As I write in the thesis, people scroll in relations to different life situations, so creating a space to for example talk about algorithmic recommendations that had to do with relationship dynamics was a challenge.”
This research sheds light on how social media platforms like TikTok are more than just entertainment. They’re spaces where technology and emotion meet, shaping how we feel, connect, and make sense of the world.
What would you like to explore next?
“One area that fascinates me is the everyday use of chatbots. It seems that people are increasingly turning to systems like ChatGPT for advice and support on their everyday lives. I would like to understand the social conditions that underpin the reliance on these systems, which groups use these tools more, how, and why.
About the thesis
David Bazan Royuela has written a thesis entitled Algorithmic Interaction Ritual Chains on TikTok: Scrolling through Feedback Loops. Supervisors were Bo Isenberg and Alison Gerber.
Read more about the thesis in Lund University’s research portal.