Attention economy and immersive advertising on TikTok: Temu's audiovisual strategies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2026-2565

Keywords:

digital communication, economics of attention, immersive advertising, Temu, TikTok

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, the integration between social media and e-commerce has generated new business models, where digital entertainment is limited to shopping experiences, transforming the paradigm of traditional advertising. In this sense, the main objective is to identify the audiovisual strategies that Temu implemented on TikTok, considering the attention economy and immersive advertising. Methodology: The study adopted content analysis for the processing of 89 videos, obtaining a Cohen's Kappa coefficient with a high level of agreement between intercoders (???? = 0,87). Results: The company implements a branding strategy aimed at maximizing views through the intensive production of videos set in the context of cooking, repeatedly incorporating pop music, close-ups, the handling of products by female hands, and a predominantly white color scheme. Discussion: Temu has opted for a communication strategy focused on retention, where gaze and time become capital within the economy of visual attention. Conclusions: Therefore, user attention is a scarce, desired, and highly competitive resource that threatens personal autonomy by disconnecting individuals' habits and turning them into a set of patterns managed by techno-economic references.

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Author Biographies

Cristóbal Lalangui Campoverde, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi

Degree in Social Communication from Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE). Master in Communication Policies from the State University Institute of Higher National Studies (IAEN). His areas of knowledge and research in the academic and professional field are related to: Social Sciences, Social Communication; Critical Discourse Analysis and Radio Communication. He is currently a research professor in the Communication Department of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts and Education of the Technical University of Cotopaxi (UTC).

Jazmín Rosero Chamorro, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi

Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the Technical University of Cotopaxi. Specialist in audiovisual production.

Sebastián Chacón Molina, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi

Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the Technical University of Cotopaxi. Specialist in audiovisual production.

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Published

2026-04-07

How to Cite

Lalangui Campoverde, C., Rosero Chamorro, J., & Chacón Molina, S. (2026). Attention economy and immersive advertising on TikTok: Temu’s audiovisual strategies. Revista Latina De Comunicación Social, (84), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.4185/rlcs-2026-2565

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Miscellaneous