  This study uses TikTok (N = 8,173) to examine how short-form video platforms
challenge the protest paradigm in the recent Black Lives Matter movement. A
computer-mediated visual analysis, computer vision, is employed to identify the
presence of four visual frames of protest (riot, confrontation, spectacle, and
debate) in multimedia content. Results of descriptive statistics and the t-test
indicate that the three delegitimizing frames - riot, confrontation, and
spectacle - are rarely found on TikTok, whereas the debate frame, that empowers
marginalized communities, dominates the public sphere. However, although the
three delegitimizing frames receive lower social media visibility, as measured
by views, likes, shares, followers, and durations, legitimizing elements, such
as the debate frame, minority identities, and unofficial sources, are not
generally favored by TikTok audiences. This study concludes that while
short-form video platforms could potentially challenge the protest paradigm on
the content creators' side, the audiences' preference as measured by social
media visibility might still be moderately associated with the protest
paradigm.
