From the start, social media has been an online space to share opinions and spread popular ideas. It has evolved throughout the years, with a more recent development being the app we all know and love: TikTok. TikTok is unlike any other social media I have had a platform on, and its wild success is changing the world of social media.
What’s even more surprising is that Charli wasn’t a celebrity before the app: she was discovered and given a platform just by posting as a regular user. Another unique aspect of TikTok is how it gives “regular people” the ability to go viral and become famous. Before, social media was mainly for connecting with people you know, and maybe following a few celebrities. The goal of TikTok is to have your videos spread as far as possible, so that the people you know, the people you don’t know, and even celebrities can see them. So many people with no prior media experience have become famous through sheer luck on the app, inspiring more people to try and do the same. The line between participant and influencer has become blurred because of TikTok. It has opened up the idea of pursuing the creation of social media content as a full-time job to more people than any other social media has before.
The aspect of TikTok that intrigues me the most is its ability to create trends and sway opinions. Because of TikTok, fashion trend cycles are moving at a rapid speed. It seems like every day there is a new way I should be wearing my clothing. Everything has the ability to become a trend on TikTok, from food to hobbies to clothes. Products have sold out because of viral videos. Users across the country are seeing the exact same products on their pages, and the empty feta cheese sections at the grocery store are proof. The app is a perfect platform to promote brands and products, and people definitely are taking advantage of that fact.
I see Tik Tok as the fastest-paced social media we have right now. Gaining a following, posting content, and starting trends are all able to happen quicker than ever before. And what has started on Tik Tok makes its way to all other social media platforms, too. Social media has moved from fun websites to a huge business that incorporates all aspects of our lives. I find it so interesting to look at how social media has progressed up to this point, and it makes me wonder: what’s the next social media that’s going to take over the world?