The Development and Exploration of TikTok's Commercialization Model

Abstract

This paper investigates the commercialization model of TikTok, tracing its development history, revenue generation mechanisms, and market strategies. Through a module analysis based on the Business Model Canvas, it aims to elucidate its current status, core logic, and future trends, providing theoretical and practical references for the commercialization of short-video platforms. The study reveals that TikTok has established a closed-loop ecosystem of "content–traffic–transaction," with its revenue structure dominated by advertising, rapid growth in e-commerce operations, and live streaming serving as a crucial supplement. Nevertheless, the platform continues to face persistent challenges, including an underdeveloped product governance framework, rising costs of traffic acquisition, and increasing compliance management difficulties.