New Study Reveals Surprising Connection Between TikTok Use and Gen Z Women’s Interest in ‘Bad Boys

Gen Z Women Are Swooning Over These Men!

A recent study reveals that young women who frequently watch TikTok videos that romanticize criminals are more likely to find offenders sexually attractive.

According to research published in the journal Deviant Behavior, those who consistently engaged with videos glorifying criminals scored higher in hybristophilia, a psychological phenomenon, compared to those who scrolled past such content.

These videos often idolize infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer or fictional antagonists such as Joe Goldberg from Netflix’s “You,” portraying them as misunderstood, protective, or even romantic figures.

In some instances, users labeled these men as “ideal partners,” interpreting violent or possessive behavior as signs of loyalty and affection.

Others added a layer of irony, leaving sexually suggestive comments like “Daddy” or “Smash”—slang indicating attraction—beneath clips of criminals, while the recurring “I can fix him” fantasy suggested a belief that love could redeem a wrongdoer.

The study, led by psychologists at the University of Huddersfield in England analyzed 66 TikToks and 91 comments posted between 2020 and 2024, then surveyed nearly 100 female users aged 18 to 27 to measure hybristophilia levels, empathy and dark personality traits.

Researchers also flagged “actor-offender transference” — when attraction to actors like Zac Efron or Evan Peters, who played Bundy and Dahmer on-screen, spills into attraction to the real-life killers.

The authors said the findings show how TikTok “can subtly shape empathy and moral boundaries among Gen Z women.”

“The platform’s romanticized portrayals of offenders, often through attractive actors, emotionally charged soundtracks and ironic humor, can blur the line between fantasy and real-world harm,” said Professor Maria Ioannou and Dr. Calli Tzani, of Huddersfield’s Cyberpsychology Research Network.

“Instead of evoking empathy for victims, these narratives often redirect emotional identification toward offenders, softening perceptions of their actions,” they said.

Michelle Drouin, associate professor of psychology at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and co-author of the study, said the algorithm keeps users hooked.

“Once a person shows interest in content, the algorithm learns that interest, so initial curiosity can feed hours of suggested content,” Drouin told The Post. “This content — sometimes digging deeply into a criminal’s past and present life — can spur feelings of closeness or intimacy with the criminal.”

That craving for connection, she said, “is a natural human motivation” — but with more people turning to screens for intimacy, many now seek it online rather than in real life.

In December 2024, that fascination played out in real life in the aftermath of the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on West 54th street in Midtown.

Within hours of the arrest of 26-year-old data engineer Luigi Mangione, social media filled with memes and posts admiring Mangione’s looks, a response critics said “trivialized violence” and showed how easily accused killers are glamorized online.

TikTok’s design encourages obsession by rewarding emotional clips that make danger feel exciting, using repetition and emotional cues to make violent figures seem more appealing over time, said Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center.

“Virtual romance (has) become increasingly central to modern emotional life, particularly among younger generations immersed in hyperconnected digital environments,” Rutledge said.

“TikTok, AI companions and “romantasy” subcultures create psychological conditions that can facilitate hybristophilic attraction by normalizing and romanticizing danger,” she added.