The Phenomenon of TikTok

[/media-credit] Tik Tok logo

If you are a student at Orem High (or simply a teenager with a cell phone), chances are you have at least heard of TikTok. Or, maybe, you have downloaded the app and even made a few videos yourself. Whether you are TikTok famous, an amateur, or barely even understand what TikTok is, one thing is apparent: its influence and use is everywhere.

TikTok is a social media app for creating short videos (think: comedy, lip sync, talent). With a mission to “inspire creativity and bring joy.” Despite being around since only 2017, the app already has 1 billion users. How did TikTok get so big, so fast?

Rachel Clark, a senior at Orem High School said “It’s like the new generation’s version of the app ‘Vine’, but more people are actively using it.”

Some students at Orem High have had their videos go viral, labeling them “TikTok famous.” OHS Sophomore Drew Cronin is one of those students. His most popular video has reached 1.9 million views, and he has other videos with views of 1 million or higher. He said “I started TikTok just as a joke because my friends told me I should, and my first video blew up. Since then, I have used it as a platform to channel my viewers to Instagram which helps me get jobs (for videography) in the long run. It’s also just fun to mess around and do them at this point.”

Taye Raymond, a senior, said “I posted a video of me doing the long jump first just because I thought it would be funny, and I didn’t think anyone was gonna see it. All of the sudden it blew up. I honestly think the app is so dumb and I never go on it anymore but it was kind of cool to be famous for a little.”

Although it may seem trivial, it’s undeniable that apps and social media platforms influence conversation and pop culture, and even have the potential to create opportunities for users.