Tiktok

By Eesha Gorti

The world was hit by a wave when the well known app musical.ly rebranded to become what we now know as Tiktok. This app has taken off over the past eight months and has delivered some pretty vast content. This app has been deemed the successor of Vine, and has polarised the masses.

Tiktok is mainly used by teenagers and young adults across the world, but has also been the cause of the rise of fame of multiple kids such as Jonathan Le (@itsjonathanle), famous Tiktoker Micheal Le's (@justmaiko) younger brother. With over 2.5 million followers, Jonathan Le has stolen the heart of all his viewers.

In the boredom induced by lockdown, Tiktok has gained a huge amount of active users (including yours truly) who spend hours at a stretch scrolling through their 'For You Page' and experiencing all the different emotions because of the different kind of content it has to offer.

Content on tiktok is mainly divided into five different kinds-

1) The Dances

This is the part of Tiktok that has taken after musical.ly. I did not expect to enjoy these so much. These dances are fun, easy to learn and more importantly, so well known that if I was to walk into a public area and dance to Doja Cat's 'Say So' at least one person would join in.

2) The Jokes

These kind of videos are the ones that have caused people to believe that Tiktok is the new Vine. I have spent one too many hours laughing at stuff that i would find cringey before. The best part of the community? It has inside jokes of it's own.

3) The Aesthetically pleasing

Looking for inspiration on any kind of design? From make up to interior design to outfits, this app has your back. As a photographer, Tiktok is my go-to for visuals. And it is definitely blessed with some of the most beautiful people.

4) The Duets

Making it easier to collaborate with other users than ever before. This has been the blossoming point of so many friendships. This feature sparks so much creativity, allowing acting, dancing and singing duets, as well as reaction videos.

5) The Life Hacks/ Infomercials

The talent displayed on this app doesn't just stop at performing arts. The creators here have come up with the most innovative possible ways to impart their knowledge to the viewers. Name something you want to learn, and you'll find it here. Full of niches, such as teaching Black History to how to make dalgona coffee, this app caters to all audiences.

Tiktok is now on the list of Top 10 social media apps on both Play Store and App Store. A list of underrated Tiktokers I'd recommend include @gabschase, @taylorcassidyj, @itsfred, @lynlapid, @pedro_santii, @dexxone and @taneeshamirwani.

Out of 10, I'd give this app the 18 hours it's taken of my screentime in the past two weeks.