A TikTok survey finds that 4 out of 10 Brazilians say they use the short-form video social media platform to study in Brazil. The study surveyed more than 91,000 Brazilian users over the age of 18.

The study indicates that 41.5% of the survey participants reported using videos from the TikTok platform to prepare for college entrance exams, civil service exams, and other assessments.

Brasil Escola spoke with Adelir Marinho, who holds a Ph.D. in Education and is a specialist in educational psychology, and Thiago Braga, author of the Portuguese Language textbook for the pH Education System, to discuss the potential risks of using TikTok for studying and the best way to use social media for academic purposes.

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TikTok Survey on Using the Platform for Studying

TikTok released a study involving more than 91,000 participants. The survey found that 41.5% of them said they had used the platform’s videos as a way to study for college entrance exams, civil service exams, and other tests.

According to a study, 94% of people who use TikTok for studying believe that the content they watched contributed to better results.

"The data reflects a trend we see naturally on the platform every day: people not only consume content, but also share knowledge in accessible and creative formats. TikTok expands access to high-quality educational content and strengthens a community that learns collaboratively," says Gustavo Rodrigues, TikTok's Public Policy Lead for Safety in Brazil.

Check out the survey's key findings :

• 92% of users who have used TikTok to study consider it a reliable environment for learning something new.
• 76% have already recommended an educational content creator to others.
• 45% of users who study on TikTok consume educational content daily, while another 13% do so weekly.

Most-Searched School Subjects on TikTok for Studying

According to a TikTok survey, the school subjects most frequently searched for by users who use the platform for studying include:

• Portuguese Language and Writing: 48%
• Math: 47%
• History: 37%
• Foreign languages: 34%

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Topics most searched for by students on TikTok. Credit: Press Release / TikTok Brazil.

Risks of Studying on TikTok and Social Media

According to Adelir Marinho, the dynamics of the TikTok platform—with its continuous scrolling of short videos—encourage a superficial engagement with the shared content. This is because it encourages rapid consumption of information, which fragments the information presented.

With the excess of data, students do not have enough time to process it, connect concepts, or consolidate their knowledge, says the Ph.D. in Education.

The expert also notes that the very logic of social media—and its algorithms—prioritizes engagement rather than, necessarily, scientific quality. According to Adelir, this factor increases the risk of misinformation or the excessive simplification of complex content. “The risk lies not only in the platform itself, but in the way it structures the consumption of information.”

In Adelir's view, TikTok should be used only as a supplementary resource for studies, not as a primary source.

"In this sense, short videos can serve as a resource for quick reviews, specific explanations, or to introduce a topic, and/or as a way to motivate viewers to explore the subject in greater depth through other, more structured sources, such as books, classes, or articles, because following trusted teachers, researchers, and educational channels reduces the risk of misinformation and improves the quality of the material consumed,” says Adelir Marinho, who holds a Ph.D. in Education and is a specialist in educational psychology.

According to Thiago Braga, short videos can give students the impression that they’ve learned something, when in fact they’ve only had brief exposure to the topic. In addition, the educator notes that the format encourages distraction and a constant shift in stimuli, which can hinder concentration and content retention.

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Adelir Marinho (left) and Thiago Braga (right). Credit: Publicity photo.

How can you use TikTok to study?

"Through TikTok, students can discover topics, teachers, or study tips and then delve deeper into the material through books, full-length lessons, or exercises," notes Thiago Braga.

Although the internet supports the learning process, in Adelir’s view, it does not replace formal study strategies, since more consistent learning depends on processes that require greater concentration, in-depth reading, and time for reflection.

The platform offers a visual and dynamic approach, which can make certain content easier to understand—especially when it involves practical examples, diagrams, or demonstrations—which, for some students, helps with reviewing concepts, memorizing formulas, or gaining an initial understanding of more complex topics.
Adelir Marinho

The expert adds that the network's virtual environment facilitates the creation of communities that can serve as a space for sharing study strategies, solving exercises, and exploring different ways of understanding the same content.

TikTok from Brasil Escola

On Brasil Escola’s TikTok profile, students can find the latest updates, fun facts, and news about the ENEM, ENCCEJA, college entrance exams, and science competitions.

Follow us and check out Brasil Escola's TikTok content!

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Brasil Escola's TikTok Profile (@brasilescola)

See also: Six ways to study for the Enem exam online

By Lucas Afonso,
, Journalist

*Content is the sole responsibility of the partner.

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