Just your average Tiktok consumer - Hunter
From Cringy to Trendy
When I first downloaded the app TikTok it was better known as Musically. This app was a place for people to lip-sync, prank each other, and do silly dances. Once the app reemerged as TikTok, it became an app you were embarrassed to have. I remember at my high school in 2018, to have this new app called TikTok was something laughed at, but to make videos on this platform was a whole other categorization us teenagers frowned upon.
Then COVID-19 hit and we were all bored in our houses with nothing to do thus, TikTok popularity grew once again. It was no longer embarrassing to watch these videos, if anything it was encouraged for those of us stuck at home to participate in these trends by making videos.
Anyone could grow their page and become someone within minutes. Emphasize on anyone. The algorithm is constantly flooded with mindless content now that makes us numb to what is truly good content yet, we proceed to scroll. Is TikTok a good place for media content producers to demonstrate their talents? I would say no.
I believe that TikTok is an easy way to gain quick validation through a few likes, but I don’t believe it is a platform for serious content creators to get their art out. For example, my TikTok for you page is filled with dog videos, story times, and recipes. I believe that anyone can make these videos, and I don’t believe that TikTok is the kind of platform where you take people’s content seriously. If you are trying to emerge as a serious content creator TikTok might not be the app to do so. Think about it. TikTok is an app for short and catchy content, you must captivate the audience within seconds and if you don’t, they can easily scroll away and be rid of you.
Considerations As a Content Creator
If you are a content creator trying to go viral you must consider your audience. You must acknowledge that your viewers are probably teenagers and young adults with an ever-short attention span. You could go viral, but that virality will not sustain your emerging career as a content creator. TikTok is a fast-paced app, what is trendy today will be a thing of the past tomorrow. It is not a sustainable way to gain a following.
The hard truth is, if you create something you really care about and post it onto TikTok, people will not actually care. At the end of the day, it is a simple scroll that determines if people are actually watching; even if they are watching, is your message being delivered in the right context or on the right platform? likely, if you grow viral for one thing, it will be hard to break out from that. In fact, you may be known for going viral for that one specific thing forever. The difference between TikTok and other forms of content is that you can go to bed at night knowing that you aren’t desperate to stay relevant by participating in frivolous trends. With TikTok it is harder to stay original while remaining relevant at the same time.
The Harsh Truth
In closing, I believe it is exhausting trying to stay relevant by constantly waiting for trends to hop on. I believe creating a sixty-second video feels unfulfilling because with one scroll it will be off someone’s radar forever. I feel as content creators, the use of TikTok does not allow our audience to truly connect with who we are. If you feel the same way about any of these beliefs, it may be time to close the app and take a walk.
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