During the initial quarantine from the COVID-19 pandemic many young people who were stuck in the house turned to social media to fill their time. TikTok, a social media app created in 2016, rose to 2 billion users during the first few months of the lockdown. Two years later, it’s one of the most popular social media platforms in the world.
With the app’s jump in popularity also came wildly popular TikTok stars. These stars look very different from the traditional movie star or pop musician. The biggest TikTok star, Charli D’Amelio, has around 125 million followers, and a net worth of 12 million dollars. D’Amelio is only 17, making her much younger than most celebrities to obtain such a large following and fortune. The young star is known for posting videos of dances, often choreographed by herself.
Similarly, Addison Rae has 87 million followers on TikTok, where she mostly posts dancing and lip syncing videos. The 21 year old has signed with modeling agencies and starred in a Netflix film since becoming popular on TikTok.
TikTok stars, as well as the app itself, face a lot of criticism, especially from older generations. A common complaint against famous TikTok creators is that they do not need to have much traditional talent to make large profits off of their content. However, much of the intrigue of the app comes with videos only lasting a few seconds which does not leave much time for spectacular talents.
TikTok also does not make it difficult to go viral and make money on the app. The more likes and comments a video gets, the more pages it will show up on. TikTok generated a creator fund that provides income to those on the app who have made viral videos and continue content creation. In a statement released by TikTok the requirement of the fund is explained with one stipend being “at least 100K authentic video views in the last 30 days to be eligible to join the Creator Fund.” They continue to write that “[t]here’s no limit on the number of creators who can join. We want as many eligible creators as possible to make money doing what they love on TikTok.”
While the simplicity of gaining fame on TikTok is often laughed at, the app’s users feel more connected to the stars because of their relatability. Unlike more mainstream celebrities, TikTok stars often give their fans a glimpse into their daily lives by posting videos from their rooms, including their families in their videos, and making “Day in my life” videos.
Due to the nature of their content, fans of TikTok stars feel that they know these celebrities more than they ever did with actresses they watched on TV. The similarities in age also helps TikTok users feel more connected to the stars.
One popular TikTok creator, Anna Sitar, gained a lot of popularity from trying a different Starbucks drink order every day and recording her reaction to the drink. Another, Chris Olsen, gained followers from frequently posting videos pranking his boyfriend.
Most TikTok creators also frequently respond to the comments left on their videos, and allow others to duet, making their page engaging to fans. The content they post is oftentimes much more relatable to the average person than the red carpet paparazzi photos the typical movie star shares with fans.
So, will social media influencers such as TikTok stars push out movie stars and musicians as the biggest celebrities?