Why is TikTok an Obsession Among Young People?

This post was last updated on January 19th, 2021

TikTok new logo 2020

It is often a cause of concern for the adults that TikTok is such a sensation among the youth. The common notion is that while the youth loves TikTok, the parents and adults do not quite get the hang of things. This is further reinstated if you observe the TikTok statistics. As much as 40% of users are teenagers and young adults and thus, the brand caters to the young minds through its content. Unlike some other social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, this is largely dominated by youngsters and in this article, we will try to decipher the possible causes.

Let us first understand the workings of TikTok, the app which has been downloaded the most number of times only after Whatsapp in 2019

What is TikTok?

It is essentially a video sharing application. It equips the users with some tools such as soundtracks, morphing of faces, and adding special effects, Snapchat style filters, and many others. As a result, a person can create videos from the comfort of his house. Many are simply on TikTok to follow the accounts of people they like. Some popular TikTok stars have millions of followers and they provide you with entertaining content regularly. Famous Tiktok users are considered of the most influential Social Media Stars in this era.

The ‘For You’ feed is also a popular destination in TikTok where people watch a collection of random videos assorted for you. This system ensures that you can view content that is created by someone you don’t even follow. As a result, there is always the chance of being an overnight sensation. There have been many who shot to fame after a video went viral and was viewed by millions.

Like most other social media platforms you can send messages as well and like videos that you have watched. Such features coupled with some unique ones made it into such a sensation.

How TikTok edges out Youtube?

YouTube has been there for ages and is an established brand. New creators find it very difficult to find a footing here and they look to TikTok as a potential platform. Being new in the markets, TikTok is often considered more trendy or fashionable to be a part of for the youth.

Some reasons behind the youth preferring TikTok

  • Instant Fame: There is no other social media platform that offers the chance to be a famous personality in a matter of days. If you have the talent and the little bit of luck on your side then this is a possibility and it draws millions of young people to this social media platform.
  • Some popular TikTok stars: There are the likes of Charli D Amelio and Loren Grey whom the youngsters look up to. They are young stars of TikTok who entertain their regular videos and their presence is more reason for the others to join in. 
  • The potential to make money: Although monetization of TikTok content has not yet been developed, the popular creators still make a lot of money. This is because they can appeal to their fans during live streams for tips and donations. Besides, the brands selling a lifestyle and fashion products often rope in the popular TikTok stars for a collaboration and they earn through this. Thus, TikTok is an outlet to make some money for the young people and the possibility lures them into using this app.
  • Youngsters Love Memes: TikTok is one of the gold mines for memers and thousands of memes are prepared from footage of this app. Many youngsters are not directly interested in TikTok but pay attention due to the rich content used for creating memes.

Some concerns

Governments and experts around the world have often dubbed TikTok to be dangerous. They have banned TikTok as well in some countries and have declared it to be a genuine security concern. But with the popularity skyrocketing, more steps are now being taken to bring about stricter guidelines for the use of TikTok

Conclusion

TikTok already has a strict stance against all forms of cyberbullying and with the growing popularity and a young audience, there are a lot more responsibilities for this app that has been hailed as one of the most popular in 2019.

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