Dietary and Cognitive Effects of Food Ads Posted by TikTok Influencers

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Calorie Consumption
• Interventions: Behavioral: TikTok Ads - With Food; Behavioral: TikTok Ads - Without Food

• Registration Number: NCT05777486
• Lead Sponsor: NYU Langone Health

Brief Summary

Randomized and controlled experimental study to evaluate how influencer food ads on TikTok affect calorie purchases among youth (ages 10-13). Participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: (1) seeing an influencer with food or (2) seeing an influencer without food. Participants will complete a 15-minute survey in which they will be randomized to one of two conditions and view and rate TikTok influencer ads associated with their condition. Then they will complete a food purchasing task in which they will shop in an online store that will display six food items and six beverages. Finally, they will answer demographic questions (e.g., self-reported height and weight) and view a debriefing summary that describes the full purpose of the study.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-02-17
• Study First Submitted: 2023-03-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-03-08
• Study First Posted: 2023-03-21
• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-16
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-17
• Primary Completion: 2025-10-31
• Study Completion: 2025-10-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 100

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants must be 10-13 years old
• Identify as only non-Latino White or only Black/African American
• Report that they log into TikTok at least once daily
• Read and speak English

Exclusion Criteria

• Any criteria not met as listed above will bar an adolescent from participating in the study

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
TikTok Influencer Ads with Food	TikTok Ads - With Food	Participants randomized to view TikTok influencers' posts with food will view 4 ads associated with their condition and 2 filler ads, all of which are presented in counterbalanced order. They will report their reaction to the ads using the icons available on the TikTok platform (i.e. like, comment, or share). After viewing all of the TikTok ads, youth participants will complete the virtual snack selection task where they will see a virtual vending machine. All items will cost $2. Participants will be asked to select one snack and one beverage from the vending machine. After the snack selection task, participants will review the TikTok ads again and complete survey questions.
TikTok Influencer Ads without Food	TikTok Ads - Without Food	Participants randomized to view TikTok influencers' posts without food will view 4 ads associated with their condition and 2 filler ads, all of which are presented in counterbalanced order. They will report their reaction to the ads using the icons available on the TikTok platform (i.e. like, comment, or share). After viewing all of the TikTok ads, youth participants will complete the virtual snack selection task where they will see a virtual vending machine. All items will cost $2. Participants will be asked to select one snack and one beverage from the vending machine. After the snack selection task, participants will review the TikTok ads again and complete survey questions.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Calorie Count from Snacks Chosen at Virtual Vending Machine	Day 1

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

NYU Langone Health; 🇺🇸 New York, New York, United States