Tik Tok is a video-sharing social networking app that is used worldwide to create short dancing, lip syncing and comedy videos.
It was originally targeted towards teens, but with much of the world being in isolation due to Covid-19 it is becoming increasingly popular with families, celebrities and even the older generations as an entertaining way to pass time indoors.
Although there may not be a real need for Tik Tok it is an outlet users to be creative, make up dances, have some fun and potentially even become ‘Tik Tok famous’ in the process. Just like any other social media platform there are a long list of ‘Tik Tokers’ who have managed to make a name for themselves including the likes of Charli D’Amelio, Loren Grey and Riyaz Afreen all of who are under the age of 18 and each with between 30 and 45 million followers.
Because the purpose of the app is to learn dances to songs and record yourself performing them, it gives artists publicity they may have not received otherwise. This all starts out when someone creates a set of moves to a portion of a song, that clip goes viral and then everyone is trying to learn the same dance to the same song. An example of this can be seen in this compilation of teens learning the dance to Supalonely by New Zealand’s very own Benee.
This is the case with many songs which as a result reach the top of the charts on streaming platforms such as Apple music and Spotify, as users of Tik Tok are constantly playing them on repeat whilst learning dance moves. Spotify even has a playlist dedicated to popular songs used on the app called Tik Tok songs.
The app is giving musicians great exposure whilst showcasing their songs in new ways through a unique outlet, making artists like Benee more known in the industry and around the globe.
Although, Tik Tok may not necessarily be deemed as educational for teens and children it is definitely a great distraction from what’s going on currently, whilst giving parents a break from entertaining the kids, even if it’s just for half an hour!
If you’re a parent wanting to find out more about the platform - how it works and the security of the app, feel free to read further information about it here.