Similar to past phenomenons such as Dubsmash and Vine (rip), TikTok has recently blown up as the must-have app, especially within the younger community.
Users create and watch a wide-range of short videos made solely for entertainment, whether it be lip-syncing, trending dance routines, viral challenges or lifestyle tutorials.
Here’s Gordon Ramsay and his daughter for example, doing one of the dance challenges 😂
Over 1.5 billion people have downloaded this app and it’s available in 154 countries, making it an another app that people can connect on from all over the world.
I’d say the main users are around 12-17, and as a 19 year old I have to admit it does feel weird to use an app and feel slightly lost. I still haven’t worked out how to use it properly. When you think about it, my generation has always been in the thick of it, no matter what the new technology or media is at the time. But with TikTok it’s just not the same. It’s not second nature to me like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat were when I was younger… maybe I’m getting old. Is this what it feels like to be my mum who still uses one finger to type and is amazed by checking in on Facebook?
Although I do find some TikToks pretty funny and it’s alright to scroll through them in bed when I’m bored, I can’t imagine using TikTok more than other platforms like Insta or Snapchat. I’m not really sure I see the appeal of being TikTok famous either, but each to their own!
Maybe, if I was still in school, I’d feel more of a connection to the app as more of my friends would be constantly talking about it and sharing videos. Then I’d probs feel the need to be more involved and like the app more. Saying that, in some ways I’m actually glad that I don’t have any real TikTok commitments, it looks like a lot of effort to me🤣
A 15 sec dance video can take hours to learn, trust me, I’ve tried! That might just be my problem having 2 left feet though, even Gordon did better than I could. For now, I’ll take a backseat in making any myself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t watch them every time one pops up on my Twitter feed. Here’s some relevant ones that popped up yesterday:
Carry on the discussion below whether or not you feel the same way, is TikTok a generation thing? Do you use it yourself? Or what is your fav TikTok? 😎
**EDIT** 06/04/20
Hey guys,
With everything going on in the world and us now being in ‘lockdown’ compared to when I wrote this, I’ve actually had a change of heart so I thought I’d do you an update. I can’t stop TikToking!!! I’ve had all the time in the world to try and entertain myself and found myself using the app way more than before. Everyone I know seems to be doing the same too. Whenever I go onto Instagram or Snapchat, one of my friends seems to have posted a new TikTok video, usually a dancing one. I actually understand how to use it now too which is a bonus. I guess maybe it wasn’t an age thing after all, maybe it was a not having enough free time thing? Or maybe I’ve just started using it as a last resort… who knows, but it’s been quite fun and I wonder how many of you reading this have been using TikTok way more now too? P.s Gordon is still a better dancer than me but I’m trying! Hope everyone is well and staying safe 😊
Language💬, New Media📲 and Esme's Experience👩🏼🎓 
One reply on “TikTok Teens”
I completely agree with the age thing! I’m 21 and I feel ancient when I use TikTok because it’s full of famous children twerking and I’m just a confused old lady trying to figure out how to unfollow Loren Beech lol. What I found incredibly interesting about TikTok though, and the exact reason why I had to delete the app only a week after I had got it, was the addictive nature of the endless content stream. It’s a well-known phenomenon that once you start scrolling through TikTok, you don’t stop until you’re desperate for either food or sleep. I just don’t have the time in the day; even during self-isolation, I’m holding off redownloading it just in case it makes my screentime double! I think it all comes down to the attention economy of social media and how TikTok is optimized for this. The content is immediately accessible 24/7, personalised to your tastes through the ‘For You Page’ algorithm, everchanging with different trends and is very interactive. Users can duet, comment and share other’s multimodal content and that’s why I think it’s taking over the world. It’s also why I’m very jealous of anyone who has the willpower to not spend their every waking moment on TikTok, I do not have that inner strength. So, for now, my phone will remain free from an endless stream of quality memes. On that note, back to scrolling through Instagram for hours on end…
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