TikTok, the popular Chinese social media application, is not just another app that young people are crazy about. It is a platform that has taken the world by storm, becoming an addiction and the fastest-growing platform. It is also a story about influence, politics, and domination, but most importantly, it is a story about the future and the verses it holds.
TikTok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese company that launched the app in 2016. It has since reached its full global potential in the last few years, and it is estimated to have one billion monthly active users worldwide. According to research, which is not available in all countries, two-thirds of American teenagers (13-17 years old) actively use TikTok.
TikTok: The Platform of Choice
TikTok is a magnet for teenagers, and it is gradually gaining popularity among older people as well. For those who consider TikTok their primary application, other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are too dull or too serious for the new generation.
The essence of this platform is its short-form videos, where users can record anything from the most serious topic to the most bizarre moves. The audience is captivated and addicted to scrolling through new videos on their phones.
A New Generation of Influencers
TikTok has brought forth a new generation of influencers, which has redefined the meaning of being an influencer. To become one, you no longer need to have a concretely built career as an athlete, actor, scientist, or any other profession.
All you need is to be persistent, have a following, and be comfortable in front of the camera. Influencers film themselves eating breakfast, putting on make-up, choosing their wardrobe, constantly traveling, and even filming themselves taking goods out of a bag they brought from the supermarket. These influencers have become modern trendsetters and role models for high school students and younger ones.
TikTok's Algorithm and Dominance
TikTok has multiple layers, and some of the biggest global stars of this social network are Khaby Lame and Charli Grace D'Amelio. The algorithm of TikTok works based on personal interest, measuring what users watch, and how long they watch it.
Then, such content becomes dominant on their channel. This Chinese platform achieved global dominance in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, when millions of people worldwide went into lockdown.
Bans in the USA
In the United States, there is a serious discussion in Congress about the ban and control of this social network.
Employees of US government agencies cannot use TikTok, and the reason is fear of possible Chinese espionage. The biggest proponents of the ban are the Republicans, but there are also those who support it among the Democrats.
The rationale is that the Chinese can use TikTok to gain exceptional espionage benefits and that the network does not provide sufficient privacy protection.
TikTok: An Attempt to Present the World in Pink
TikTok is raising generations that money can be made quickly and easily, that school is not important, and that today, you just need to know how to sell a product.
It is an attempt to present the world in pink, with many exceptions, but such examples hardly come to the fore. TikTok is raising generations who want to easily get a new car, dream of constant travel, new clothes, and being the most desirable in society.
TikTok is a platform that gives millions of people hope that they can live well without too much trouble. It is a network that clearly assesses the interest of the new generation, the fastest and the best.
Two-Year Detention Ends: Chinese Me-Too Activists to Face Closed Door Hearing
TikTok Slapped with Hefty €345 Million Fine Over Children’s Privacy Concerns
Apple Shares Tumble Amidst Chinese iPhone Ban for Civil Servants
The United States Experiences the Smallest Chinese Imports in 17 Years
TikTok's Big Move: Shifting European User Data to New Irish Center
Putin and Xi to Strengthen Russian-Chinese Ties in Upcoming Meet