The Impact of TikTok and AI on Personal Branding and Self-Monetization Among Generation Z in the Digital Creator Economy
Keywords:
TikTok, Artificial Intelligence, Generation Z, Personal Branding, Creator EconomyAbstract
The rapid development of digital technology in recent decades has transformed social interaction, economic activity, and identity formation, giving rise to the digital creator economy. This study explores the impact of TikTok and artificial intelligence (AI) technology on personal branding and self-monetization strategies among Generation Z in Indonesia. Using a descriptive qualitative approach, data were collected through online interviews with three purposively selected TikTok content creators who consistently produce content and engage in monetization activities. Thematic analysis revealed that TikTok serves as a primary platform for building authentic digital identities, fostering creativity, and enabling economic opportunities through brand collaborations, live streaming, and community engagement. AI tools such as ChatGPT and Canva were found to enhance content creation efficiency, from generating ideas and captions to producing visual materials, though human creativity and trend awareness remain essential. Respondents perceived the content creator profession as a viable long-term career, reflecting a paradigm shift in work values from stability toward flexibility and self-expression. The findings highlight the synergy between technology and human creativity in shaping new forms of work, identity, and economic participation in the digital era.
References
Alkhalifi, Y., Rizal, K., Amir, A., & Fachrurozi, A. (2024). Implementasi Artificial Intelligence pada Desain Grafis dalam Memaksimalkan Peran Media Sosial Remaja Baitul Halim. Jurnal Pengabdian Kolaborasi Dan Inovasi IPTEKS, 2(6), 1685–1692. https://doi.org/10.59407/jpki2.v2i6.1481
Annisa, F., Mochammad Reza Fadli, Novia Suherman, & Ida Farida Adi Prawira. (2024). Pengaruh Strategi Pemasaran melalui TikTok terhadap Minat Beli Konsumen: Studi Literatur. Jurnal Manajemen Dan Pemasaran ( JUMPER ), 2(2). https://doi.org/10.51771/jumper.v2i2.798
Budiman, A., Abdillah, A., Aisyah, N., Zidan, M., & Pratiwi, D. P. (2024). How Tiktok Control Indonesia’s Market Through Tiktokshop. JLAST : Journal of Law and Social Transformation, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.62527/jlast.2.2.21
Fathiyah, F. (2023a). TikTok dan Kebebasan Berekspresi Di Ruang Digital Bagi Generasi Z. MEDIALOG: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi, 6(1), 166–177. https://doi.org/10.35326/medialog.v6i1.4139
Fathiyah, F. (2023b). TikTok dan Kebebasan Berekspresi Di Ruang Digital Bagi Generasi Z. MEDIALOG: Jurnal Ilmu Komunikasi, 6(1), 166–177. https://doi.org/10.35326/medialog.v6i1.4139
Gunadi, A. N., Haikal M, A., & Mawardi, V. C. (2023). Penggunaan AI Tools untuk Meningkatkan Kualitas Media Sosial UMKM Artree. Prosiding Konferensi Nasional Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat Dan Corporate Social Responsibility (PKM-CSR), 6, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.37695/pkmcsr.v6i0.1860
Handitya, E. (2023). Bersiasat dalam Kerentanan: Pekerja Kreatif di Masa COVID-19. Lembaran Antropologi, 2(1), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.22146/la.6777
Harahap, M., Firman, F., & Ahmad, R. (2021). Penggunaan Social Media dan Perubahan Sosial Budaya Masyarakat. EDUKATIF : JURNAL ILMU PENDIDIKAN, 3(1), 135–143. https://doi.org/10.31004/edukatif.v3i1.252
Hidayat, A. R., Ulum, M., & Irianti, N. N. (2024). Pengaruh Digital Marketing Terhadap Peningkatan Kinerja dan impelementasi Artificial Intelligence (study kasus: PT.Akadia Digital Media). JOURNAL of APPLIED BUSINESS and BANKING (JABB), 5(2), 82. https://doi.org/10.31764/jabb.v5i2.27467
Husna, A., Hasan, K., & Arifin, A. (2024). Identitas dan Penciptaan Diri di Era Disrupsi Digital. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Dan Ilmu Politik Malikussaleh (JSPM), 5(1), 45–56. https://doi.org/10.29103/jspm.v5i1.11590
Kaimuddin, A. (2020). Peran Ekonomi Kreatif dalam Mengatasi Problematika Angkatan Kerja. Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen Universitas Tadulako (JIMUT), 5(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.22487/jimut.v5i1.133
Kamaruddin, S. A., Adam, A., & Chakti, A. G. R. (2024). Komodifikasi Media Sosial Dalam Perspektif Teori Jean Baudrillard: Studi Kasus Tiktok Indonesia. Bosowa Journal of Education, 5(1), 177–180. https://doi.org/10.35965/bje.v5i1.5462
Kurnia, M. I., Wiryani, D., & Poedjadi, M. R. (2024). Analisis Peran Artifical Intelligence pada Konten Tiktok @dimulai.id. Jurnal Inovasi Komunikasi, 47–55. https://doi.org/10.29313/jikom.v2i2.4473
Lintang, D. M., & Sari, D. (2022). Pentingnya Membangun Branding di Kanal Online (The Importance of Building Branding in Online Channels). SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4236374
Maeskina, M. M., & Hidayat, D. (2022). Adaptasi Kerja Content Creator di Era Digital. Jurnal Communio : Jurnal Jurusan Ilmu Komunikasi, 11(1), 20–30. https://doi.org/10.35508/jikom.v11i1.5150
Maharani, A. P., Widiyanarti, T., Meilina, A., Lestari, D. A., & Aidilia, Z. (2024). Kebudayaan Gen Z: Kekuatan Kreativitas di Era Digital. Indonesian Culture and Religion Issues, 2(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.47134/diksima.v2i1.120
Putra, I. K. J. D., & Sarjani, N. K. P. S. (2022). Fenomena Latah Sosial dalam Pembuatan Konten Visual di Era Industri Kreatif Digital. AMARASI: JURNAL DESAIN KOMUNIKASI VISUAL, 3(01), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.59997/amarasi.v3i01.1040
Putri, S. N. (2022). Tenaga Kerja Ekonomi Kreatif: Kerentanan dibalik Ilusi Kebebasan. Journal of Citizenship, 1(2). https://doi.org/10.37950/joc.v1i2.313
Ramadhina, N., Jason, F., Pratama, M. F., Raihan, L. A., Al Mufti, S., & Meranti, M. (2023). Dinamika Perubahan dalam Komunikasi Manusia di Era Teknologi Artificial Intelligence. Communicator Sphere, 3(2), 114–123. https://doi.org/10.55397/cps.v3i2.57
Rifky, M., & Veri, J. (2024). Analisa Implementasi Teknologi Informasi Dalam Pengelolaan Ekonomi Digital: Tinjauan Systematic Literature Review. Indo-Fintech Intellectuals: Journal of Economics and Business, 4(6), 2982–2991. https://doi.org/10.54373/ifijeb.v4i6.2309
Riski, R., Maulidar, M., Dimas Bagus Susanto, & Adria, A. (2025). Potensi Bisnis Digital bagi Generasi Zilenial dalam Mengatasi Tantangan Minimnya Peluang Kerja di Indonesia. Journal of Social and Economics Research, 6(2), 562–571. https://doi.org/10.54783/jser.v6i2.604
Sekar Arum, L., Amira Zahrani, & Duha, N. A. (2023). Karakteristik Generasi Z dan Kesiapannya dalam Menghadapi Bonus Demografi 2030. Accounting Student Research Journal, 2(1), 59–72. https://doi.org/10.62108/asrj.v2i1.5812
Subiantoro, S. (2024). Harapan Generasi Z terhadap Pekerjaan di Masa Depan: Implikasi bagi Kebijakan Pendidikan di Indonesia (Sebuah Tinjauan Literatur). JIIP - Jurnal Ilmiah Ilmu Pendidikan, 7(9), 10727–10736. https://doi.org/10.54371/jiip.v7i9.5931
Suyono, S., Suhari, S., Srinarwati, D. R., Lestari, B. B., Saputra, A. W., Almaulana, A. W., & Anugraheni, M. T. I. M. (2023). Peluang Bisnis Menjadi Konten Kreator Di Kalangan Remaja Milenial Pada Era Digital Desa Banjar Kemuning Sedati Sidoarjo. SEWAGATI: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat Indonesia, 2(2), 161–167. https://doi.org/10.56910/sewagati.v2i2.820
Utami, F. N., Yossinomita, Y., Pangestu, M. G., & Angraini, D. (2023). Pelatihan Aplikasi Platform Digital E-Commerce sebagai Media Pemasaran Digital pada UMKM UP2K Kelurahan Paalmerah. Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat UNAMA, 2(2), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.33998/jpmu.2023.2.2.885
Utomo, A. R. B. P., & Rachmawati, R. (2023). Analisis Basic Human Value Generasi Z Dalam Perspektif Dunia Kerja Di Jakarta Dan Sekitarnya. Cakrawala Repositori IMWI, 6(5), 1931–1947. https://doi.org/10.52851/cakrawala.v6i5.512
Wijaya, B. N. (2022). Perspektif Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial di Era Digital: Disrupsi, Emansipasi, dan Rekognisi. Sosioglobal : Jurnal Pemikiran Dan Penelitian Sosiologi, 6(1), 94. https://doi.org/10.24198/jsg.v6i1.36523
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Elizabeth Amelia Permata Sari, Daniel Jefri Kurniawan

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
