Relationship between Dark Personality Traits and TikTok Addiction among Chinese College Students: The Mediating Role of Social Ostracism

Background: Recent years have witnessed the rapid rise of TikTok, a short-video social platform, which has sparked concerns about its potential for misuse and addiction. TikTok addiction has been associated with various psychological and social issues. This study aims to explore the mediating role of social ostracism in the relationship between the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism) and TikTok addiction. Methods: Data were collected from 425 Chinese college students through convenience sampling, using three validated scales: the Dirty Dozen, the Social Ostracism Scale, and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with AMOS 24 revealed significant patterns. Results: Narcissism had direct positive effects on both social ostracism (β = 0.115, p < 0.01) and TikTok addiction (β = 0.223, p < 0.05), while Psychopathy only had a direct positive effect on social ostracism (β = 0.147, p < 0.05). Contrary to expectations, Machiavellianism did not show significant direct effects on either social ostracism (β = −0.031, p > 0.05) or TikTok addiction (β = 0.135, p > 0.05). Mediation analysis confirmed that social ostracism acted as a positive mediator, amplifying the effects of Psychopathy (β = 0.049, p < 0.05) and Narcissism (β = 0.052, p < 0.01) on TikTok addiction. In other words, higher levels of Psychopathy and Narcissism were linked to greater experiences of social ostracism, which in turn were linked to higher levels of TikTok addiction. Conclusion: These findings suggest an important role for social ostracism in linking Narcissism and Psychopathy to TikTok addiction. Addressing social ostracism and these dark personality traits through targeted interventions may be important in reducing TikTok addiction risks among individuals with such traits.