Even if you don’t make videos on the platform, practically everyone nowadays is aware of what TikTok is and the kinds of videos that users post on the popular app.
Like many, I also became intrigued by the app and started posting for fun. Unlike some, I wasn’t too focused or concerned about gaining followers; instead, I was just looking to have fun (and make some memes).
All of this changed when I posted a certain video where I talked about the creepy comments that women receive unsolicited from men no matter what they look like. Needless to say, this was more of a controversial topic than I knew of since apparently, Tik Tok has a large middle-aged male following that I hadn’t been aware of.
Over the course of four weeks, I was bombarded with likes and both funny and rude comments on the video I had posted simply to relate to other women. Now at over 170,000 views, it is apparent that the video hit many ‘for you’ pages across the app.
Never thinking that I would ever have a ‘viral’ video on the app, I didn’t know exactly how to engage with many of the negative comments that I received. Some of them were about my body or anger over being called out, telling me to eat or asking the usual ‘how are men supposed to compliment women then?!?! Women are too sensitive.’ Others were completely creepy, making lewd comments about the way I looked or what they’d do to me.
However, not all were negative. I was happy to see many comments from women who felt exactly like I did, relating to me and mentioning some of their own experiences. Overall, the comments section of my video felt like a true representation of the female experience – dealing with some gross, uncalled for men, who are vocal and have an opinion about anything you do, and a group of women who relate to you and are also exhausted.
Examining my experience with TikTok, I can see how the app can both be an extremely positive and negative platform. On one hand, you have content creators genuinely trying to make a difference and educate people on certain topics. On the other, you have verified TikTok ‘influencers’ setting a terrible example and having massive parties in LA (yes, throwing shade).
When interacting with any social media platform, this good/bad scale still applies. When posting on it yourself and not being an observer, you too open yourself up to comments from strangers who can greatly influence how you see yourself and your own beliefs.
Learn how to engage in a healthy way with these platforms – it’s not always easy to do, but it is worth it in the long run (and maybe consider not having your first viral video be on a ‘controversial’ topic like me)! Overall, have fun and don’t take things too seriously. After all, the internet is full of opinions.