The TikTok Study is a research project focused on the experiences of survivors who have chosen to name the person who harmed them using social media publicly. We want to understand what influenced their decision, as well as the emotional and personal impacts of naming them and sharing their story.
Exploring the intersectional complexities when using social media to identify perpetrators of gender-based violence (The Tik Tok Study).
This study has received ethics approval from Mount Royal University’s Human Research Ethics Board. For any questions related to ethics, contact hreb@mtroyal.ca
To contact the team, email Leanna lireland@mtroyal.ca or Scharie at stavcer@mtroyal.ca
If you’re interested in participating, please email: tiktokstudymru@gmail.com
What’s Involved
We’re interested in learning more about your experiences. We aim to understand what influenced your decision to speak out, as well as the emotional and personal impact of sharing your story publicly. We will not ask you any questions about the harm itself. And you don’t have to re-tell your story.
You must be 18 years or older and currently reside in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, or a country within the European Union. If you live outside these regions, please let us know, as you may still be eligible to participate depending on local laws.
Participants are recruited from TikTok and asked to participate in a 45–60-minute interview, which will be audio recorded. You must be able to converse in English. Interview questions can be found here.
If you’re interested in participating, please email: tiktokstudymru@gmail.com
The Team
Leanna Ireland: I’m an Assistant Professor in the Criminal Justice Program at Mount Royal University. My dissertation research explored how people respond to societal injustices, including how and why they share their own stories on social media. I’m passionate about understanding the many ways people speak out and take action, often through digital spaces. I feel fortunate to do this work and to learn from the strength and insight of the people and communities I connect with. Outside of work, I enjoy biking, baking vegetables into sweets, and always having a book on the go.
D. Scharie Tavcer: I’m an Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice Degree Program at MRU, and I’ve taught here for over 20 years. I’m passionate about social justice issues specific to gender-based violence, criminal law and sentencing, and reintegration. Having studied sexual violence for years, my focus is on consent education and the importance of including the voices of those with lived experience. I’m the daughter of European immigrants who came to Canada in the 1960s, and I’m proud of that heritage. I acknowledge the people indigenous to this land, I’m an ally to the 2SLGBTTIQ+ community, and I speak loudly when I see injustice to marginalised peoples. I have a teenager and a cuddly labradoodle, and I love movies, books, and sleep.
Research Assistant: Arianna D’Alfonso, 3rd year student in the Criminal Justice Degree Program at MRU. Arianna is a motivated, driven, and compassionate student who has a strong academic background in trauma-informed care, gender-based violence, and research methods. She’s passionate about amplifying survivor voices and learning more about intersectionality and the gender-based violence experience. She’s eager to explore the experiences of those who use social media as a tool to speak out about their previous experiences with violence.