Factors driving Gen Z's news engagement on TikTok: A hybrid analysis through CB-SEM and PLS-SEM

This study explores the underlying factors that drive Generation Z's news consumption on TikTok in Vietnam, an emerging market with a vibrant digital landscape. By integrating the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT), and Uses and Gratifications Theory (UGT), this study addresses how perceived usefulness, ease of use, compatibility, and motivation jointly shape Gen Z's behavioral intentions and actual usage of TikTok for news. A survey of 859 Vietnamese respondents aged 16–27 demonstrated that motivations and intention to use TikTok are key drivers of actual usage, whereas perceived usefulness, ease of use, and compatibility positively influence intentions but do not directly predict usage behavior. These findings highlight that Gen Z's news engagement with TikTok arises from a blend of utilitarian perceptions, lifestyle alignment, and intrinsic motivations for entertainment and convenience. This study adds to the existing literature by focusing on Vietnam, a country with high digital penetration and a rapidly evolving media ecosystem, and provides practical insights for news organizations and educators. The results underscore the importance of aligning news content with Gen Z's mobile-first habits and the blurred lines between entertainment and reliable information in the short-form video era. • Integrated TAM, IDT, and UGT to analyze TikTok news consumption by Gen Z. • Identified motivations and intentions as critical mediators of actual TikTok use. • Found compatibility key for intention but not direct predictor of TikTok use. • Extended TAM to reflect dual roles of social media platforms combining news and entertainment. • Advocated for new adoption models addressing hybrid platform dynamics.