The only new part of that behavior is the platform upon which it's being displayed and how more readily available it is to everyone.

If you removed Gen z/TikTok from that sentence. I'd have thought you were talking about millenials and MySpace/Facebook/Instagram. Before that I'd have thought you were talking about Gen X/Millenials and MTV. Before that News Papers, the news, and TV shows before that. It's human nature to want to flash success (even if faked), and sex has always sold. Nothing new here.