General Background: Vocabulary mastery is essential for language proficiency, yet many junior high school students in Indonesia struggle with vocabulary acquisition. Specific Background: Traditional, textbook-based methods often fail to engage Generation Z learners, prompting the need for innovative, tech-integrated pedagogies. Knowledge Gap: While prior studies have explored social media for language learning, few have examined TikTok’s effectiveness in formal junior high school contexts in Indonesia. Aims: This study investigates the impact of TikTok-based instruction on vocabulary mastery among seventh-grade students at SMP Muhammadiyah Pagaralam. Results: Using a quasi-experimental design, the study revealed that the experimental group, taught with TikTok videos, significantly outperformed the control group in vocabulary post-tests, with a mean improvement of 44.83 points compared to 29.33 points. Novelty: Unlike prior research focused on university settings or informal learning, this study applies TikTok pedagogically within a structured junior high school environment, demonstrating its potential beyond entertainment. Implications: The findings suggest that integrating TikTok into English instruction enhances student engagement, retention, and confidence, offering a viable alternative to conventional methods and encouraging educators to embrace digital platforms aligned with students’ media habits.Highlight : TikTok-based instruction significantly improved students' vocabulary mastery compared to traditional methods, showing higher post-test scores and engagement. Students in the experimental group demonstrated greater motivation and retention, aided by interactive, visual, and auditory content from TikTok videos. The study supports integrating social media into formal education, offering practical benefits in language learning and suggesting broader pedagogical applications. Keywords : TikTok, Vocabulary Mastery, Language Learning, English Education, Junior High School
Miranda et al. (Tue,) studied this question.