Victims of the Platform : When Trauma Becomes Entertainment in the TikTok-trend "you're so funny"

This study explores how vulnerability and traumatic experiences are expressed within the TikTok trend “you’re so funny.” In a digital media environment where personal experiences of mental health and emotional difficulties are increasingly shared through humorous and entertaining formats, the study examines how humour is used to talk about difficult experiences while remaining socially acceptable. The aim is to understand how expressions of vulnerability are shaped through the interaction between users' self-presentation, TikTok’s platform affordances, and cultural changes in how trauma is understood. The study is based on a qualitative content analysis with semiotic elements of 20 publicly available TikTok videos from the trend. The analysis draws on theories of self-presentation, social media affordances, concept creep, and Social Exchange Theory. The findings show that very different experiences are presented within the same trend format. These range from serious and potentially traumatic events, such as violence, loss, and mass shootings, to more everyday experiences like anxiety, self-esteem issues, and social stress. Humour works both as a way to create emotional distance and as a strategy for gaining recognition and engagement. At the same time, the trend format and TikTok’s algorithm encourage a standardized way of presenting vulnerability, where complex experiences are turned into short, shareable content. The study highlights TikTok’s dual role as both a space for connection and a platform that benefits from users’ emotional disclosure.