Workplace Stress Drives Employees to Social Media Survival Hacks

Half of Gen Z workers rely on viral videos for workplace survival tips instead of their employers, signaling a breakdown in trust. Our latest research reveals that 1 in 4 American workers is looking to social media strangers for guidance during uncertain times.

Careerminds surveyed 1,000 full-time U.S. workers to understand how they’re navigating job insecurity and where they’re turning for workplace guidance. The results demonstrate a clear crisis in workplace communication: as layoff anxiety reaches new highs, employees are increasingly relying on unvetted social media advice rather than their employers for career direction.

A quarter of U.S. workers (24.5%) report using strategies or tips from TikTok to help them at work, with the numbers skyrocketing among younger employees. Nearly half of Gen Z (48.22%) and over a third of Millennials (36.29%) say they’ve taken advice directly from TikTok creators to navigate their corporate lives.

While some viral tips may be harmless, others fuel unhealthy overwork, create visibility pressure, or backfire professionally. When employees turn to influencers instead of leadership for workplace guidance, it reveals a fundamental gap in organizational trust and communication.

According to trueup.io, so far in 2025, there have been 668 layoffs at tech companies, affecting 206,611 people. Therefore, it’s unsurprising that employee anxiety, in every industry, has reached critical levels. The survey found that 21.4% of workers feel less confident about their job security than this time last year, including 8.5% who feel much less confident.

This anxiety isn’t abstract. It’s driving real, often harmful behaviors as employees scramble to protect themselves:

• 46.47% looked for another job “just in case”
• 41.18% spent more time worrying about job security
• 38.2% took on extra work to appear indispensable
• 33.53% avoided taking PTO or sick days
• 29.41% cut personal spending due to fear of job loss
• 17.06% increased visibility to leadership
• 15.29% delayed asking for a raise or promotion

When your workforce operates in survival mode, performance, engagement, and loyalty all suffer. Employees bracing for instability, whether or not layoffs are actually planned, create a culture of fear that becomes self-fulfilling.

The data reveals stark differences in how different demographics respond to job insecurity. Younger generations, who entered the workforce during economic upheaval, are most likely to adopt TikTok-driven workplace tactics:

Gen Z:

• 31.25% looked for another job “just in case”
• 25% took on extra work to appear indispensable
• 22.32% avoided PTO
• 22.32% delayed asking for a raise

Millennials:

• 26.37% took on extra work
• 24.80% job-searched defensively
• 24.54% avoided PTO

In contrast, only 4.04% of Boomers and 11.82% of Gen X report taking advice from TikTok, highlighting a widening generational divide in how workplace uncertainty is navigated.

Gender patterns also emerged. Men are more likely to adopt performance-driven behaviors (24.28% took on extra work vs. 19.01% of women; 28.85% used TikTok tips vs. 21.2% of women), while women are more likely to protect themselves financially (14.21% cut personal spending vs. 10.34% of men). The data suggests men demonstrate value through overwork, while women prepare for potential job loss through financial caution.

The rise of TikTok workplace survival content isn’t just a trend; it reflects a workforce increasingly worried about job stability, confused about expectations, and unsure how to navigate the modern corporate environment. When employees rely on viral videos to understand how to protect their jobs, it signals that traditional workplace communication has failed them.

The solution isn’t banning social media or dismissing employee anxiety. It’s rebuilding trust through transparent communication about company direction, proactive career support from actual experts rather than influencers, and dignified outplacement services when transitions are necessary.

Careerminds’ Career Frameworks helps organizations map skills to roles, promotions, and rewards, ensuring employees understand what’s required to succeed and feel secure in their career trajectory. When growth pathways are transparent and accessible, employees don’t need to turn to TikTok for survival tips; they can turn to their employer for real guidance. Companies that fail to provide this clarity risk losing talent, engagement, and trust.

Careerminds

Careerminds is a leading provider of outplacement and career coaching services, helping individuals navigate career transitions with personalized solutions, expert guidance, and support for lasting professional success.