This study explores the structure and linguistic features of true crime digital storytelling on TikTok. As a rapidly growing platform, TikTok has transformed the way crime narratives are shared, making them more accessible and engaging for audiences. The research employs qualitative content analysis to examine 15 videos from three true crime creators, analyzing how they construct narratives within the platform's short-form format. Findings reveal that true crime storytelling on TikTok follows a structured pattern comprising orientation, events, and reorientation, which enhances audience engagement through suspense, emotional appeal, and dramatic storytelling techniques. The study also identifies key linguistic features, including the use of past and present tense, personal participants, action verbs, chronological connectors, and conjunctions, which align with the characteristics of recount texts. While TikTok provides an innovative space for digital storytelling, ethical concerns arise regarding sensationalism, misinformation, and the potential glorification of criminals. This research contributes to the growing discourse on digital storytelling and its implications for crime representation and language learning.
Keywords: digital storytelling, true crime, TikTok, linguistic features.