THE PERCEPTION OF CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THE SOCIAL MEDIA ERA: MOZART IN THE AGE OF TIKTOK

Abstract

This article offers an analysis of how music is perceived and consumed in the digital era, dominated by streaming platforms and social networks. Mozart is approached as a cultural symbol of classical music, having become a global “brand” and a reference point for how sonic heritage is reinterpreted in contemporary culture. The study combines empirical research carried out on a sample of musician and non-musician students from the West University of Timișoara (2020–2025) with theoretical reflections on the decline of active listening, the effects of digital multitasking, and the new forms of fragmented perception generated by media such as TikTok. The conclusions highlight the need for auditory education and the rediscovery of conscious listening as both an artistic and cognitive practice.