A Whole New World of Tiktok
If you have been active on social media recently then there is no doubt that you have come across numerous TikTok videos. Whether you are on Facebook or Instagram, you see people dancing to “Savage Love” by Jason Derulo or “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, lip-syncing to different songs, or bobbing their head like Bella Poarch.
According to iPrice, TikTok remains to be the number one downloaded application for all Southeast Asian Countries and it is stated that Philippines has ranked 11th. Tiffany Diep, TikTok’s head of public relations for the Philippines and emerging Southeast Asian markets stated that, “The quarantine has been a major factor to make our numbers grow. With more people staying home, it’s only natural to see people turning to platforms like TikTok to stay entertained, informed, and connected.” Truly every single person started with “matry nga ‘to” and ended up doing multiple dance challenges, but what exactly makes TikTok so popular among the youth?
The TikTok videos we are seeing now started when the quarantine was implemented in our country, to eliminate the boredom that everyone is feeling. When one makes a TikTok video it doesn’t necessarily need to be about anything, one can film any content that they wish to show.
One of the reasons why the youth are so hooked on TikTok is because of its content discovery feed or more commonly known as the “For You Page” or FYP. The for you page shows you videos of your interest which they identified from tracking the content that you have interacted with. No matter how many hours you spend on TikTok, you would never get bored because the content they show is always different and definitely something you would enjoy.
Another reason why TikTok is a hit is because of its trends. From numerous dance challenges of popular songs, watching videos of your favorite kpop band, using various in-app filters, lip-syncing like a diva, to doing the simplest things you can do like eating. When you are on TikTok, anything can be a trend.
We all know that TikTok is used by all age groups and with its diverse range of content, we cannot avoid that there are users who are underaged and some TikTok trends are not good for kids. Especially in our country, a lot of young girls are all over the app trying to copy Charli D’Amelio or Addison Rae, dancing and twerking to some songs which a kid should not do. Apps like TikTok can be easily used by predators because they can directly message any user.
Even though TikTok is known for silly videos, viral dances, or nonsensical things, it can be a cause of comparison. Seeing the almost perfect and aesthetic lives of other people, we cannot help but envy them and have insecurities. For example, there is a trend which is called being “THAT GIRL” who seems to have her life together and now all girls on TikTok are trying to be her which can lead to jealousy. Addiction can also be a problem since the youth are spending so much time scrolling on their “for you page” like it’s a part of their daily routine to go through Tiktok.
Despite the negative potential TikTok has, we cannot deny that the app can also be the source of support and information. For example, the app itself promotes safety measures against the pandemic and some users create content about dealing with certain disorders or how to deal with anxiety, what to do when you have panic attacks, and the likes. One can also find a support group in the TikTok community, meet new friends, use the app as a form of expressing themselves, and more.
With everything that has happened, TikTok served as a stress reliever to all of us. It was enough to entertain us through quarantine and eliminate our boredom. Even with the pandemic happening, through TikTok we can share our interests and creativity, and it gives us hope to stay positive and strong. In order to avoid the negative effects that TikTok has, we encourage everyone to use the app with caution. Be careful with the contents you interact with to avoid the consequences, educate yourselves as well when doing such trends because some of it may be offensive to others, set a time limit when using the app, do not give out or include personal information in your videos and as much as possible be mindful of the people who messages you directly. It is important to have fun but with caution. Now stand up, grab your phone, and bop to the latest song right now!
