“In the future, everyone will be world-famous for fifteen minutes” said Andy Warhol in 1968, and he was not completely wrong. Fast forward to 2021 and everyone can have their fifteen minutes of fame (or in this case seconds) with the help of TikTok.
TikTok is a video-sharing social media platform that has captured everyone’s attention in the last year throughout Lockdown. The preferred app of many in 2020, TikTok managed to surpass Facebook and WhatsApp as the world’s most downloaded, non-gaming app. The platform is suitable for all age groups, being particularly popular with the under 25 age category, who make up the majority of their core audience.
Let’s rewind a few years back to August 2014. The summer of 2014 saw the rise of what would be Tik Tok’s predecessor; Musical.ly. Musical.ly was the blueprint for Tik Tok, a video sharing platform where users lip sync to music or voice overs. Its popularity skyrocketed and by May 2017 it had accumulated over 200 million daily users. In 2018 the app was bought and became the TikTok we know and love today. This new and improved version offered longer videos, more effects and filters as well as a smoothing editing system.
Pre-pandemic, TikTok’s main users were a part of the teenage demographic. However since the global Lockdown the app has become a hero saving millions of people in different age brackets from boredom and bringing us fun and happiness during such an uncertain time all in 60 seconds or less. TikTok’s popularity has soared during the past year with us all being stuck at home, even if you don’t have an account of your own you have been exposed to these videos on other social media feeds.
The app also appeals to the masses due to its wide range of content. There is something for everyone with daily content about fashion, cute animals, comedic skits and of course their infamous dance challenges like the Renegade, Savage or Up. While many use the app for entertainment, others use it as a form of escapism from the endless Lockdowns and ongoing global pandemic.
Analysing the UK’s TikTok analytics, one in three British people have the app downloaded on their devices. In the week leading up to the UK Lockdown, 278,000 UK users had created an account, up 6% from the previous week. Compare this to the first week of Lockdown where
TikTok downloads increased by a whopping 34%. Without our usual routines of college, work, shopping sprees and clubbing we spent our time on TikTok. These statistics can be applied to other countries with TikTok being the nation’s favourite social media platform and app.
If you’re one of the few who have still yet to join TikTok, here are a few reasons why you should. There are many different communities on TikTok where users share common interests like their favourite musicians or makeup hacks. The level of creativity and inspiration some creators have is contagious, watch one too many fashion hauls and you will suddenly have an entire new wardrobe! And finally, the main reason being the endless supply of memes and comedic skits that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face during Lockdown 3.0