TikTok and Narrative Authority: A Response to Georgakopoulou

Abstract

Alexandra Georgakopoulou’s (2025) article discusses an important shift in the contemporary story economy, from teller-oriented to story-oriented dynamic on social media, resulting from the immense global popularity of TikTok. While being real and relatability continue to constitute the primary capital on social media, TikTok does not capitalize on the “story” of the influencer as an exemplary and yet relatable individual. Instead, the primary products are now shareable and relatable story templates that have a great potential to develop into culturally dominating masterplots with replicable plots, characters, and moral positioning.