The use of social media platforms in education has received a lot of attention in recent years, notably for its ability to assist autonomous language learning. TikTok, a popular student site, provides unique opportunities for vocabulary development through engaging and contextualized content. However, previous research focuses primarily on the broad use of social media for language acquisition, with little investigation into specific platforms such as TikTok and its impact on autonomous vocabulary learning. This study tackles this gap by looking into the types of TikTok content that students prefer and exploring how they utilize TikTok to enrich their English vocabulary in an autonomous learning context. The data used a qualitative method and descriptive research design. The participants were 21 seventh-grade students at SMP Islam Al Azhar 29 BSB Semarang in the academic year 2024/2025 who were chosen through purposive sampling. Data were collected through interviews. The findings reveal that students favor three main types of TikTok content: art content (e.g., drama, movies, anime, lifestyle animations, or crime stories), humanities content (e.g., tutorials, quotes, or real-life scenarios in daily activities), and vlogs (e.g., vlogs of daily life, lifestyle vlogs or storytelling). These content types help students contextualize vocabulary in daily life and retain new words effectively. Furthermore, students interact with TikTok features such as likes, comments, favorites, and sharing to enhance their learning experience. They also employ various strategies to record and practice new vocabulary, including taking notes, using digital tools, and engaging in conversations. This research underscores TikTok’s potential as a versatile platform for autonomous learning, enabling students to access relevant, engaging, and flexible English learning resources. The findings provide insights into the importance of integrating digital platforms into language learning and suggest strategies for educators and learners to maximize the educational benefits from social media.