TikTok Takeover

In this world there are many things we cannot predict. For instance, we could not predict the effect COVID-19 would have on us and our everyday lives. In this unfortunate situation it is important to understand perspective. If we were able to travel back in time and show someone a picture of a masked and fully sanitized person shopping, they would think you were crazy. Along those same lines, if you were to show someone the app TikTok six months ago they may not even know what it was or what you were talking about, and if they did, they surely weren’t using it every day.
When I first downloaded the app TikTok back in February before COVID-19 hit, I didn’t realize how popular it would soon become. I was mildly curious and wanted to check it out for a few minutes. Soon after, I was hooked, and it became a more prominent source of entertainment for me and millions of other people. I recognize that TikTok also has many drawbacks, including misinformation, negative suggestions, security issues and more. But for this purpose, I am focusing on TikTok as entertainment in this pandemic crisis only. Today, TikTok is used by millions of people and is still growing. The very week my sister came home from college early because of COVID, we made a TikTok together about how our mom makes us take a walk around the block for fun---a sign of the times when literally all we could do was walk “around the block.” In a time of uncertainty, it felt good to do something lighthearted.
I have noticed that there are many different takes on this app. People love it, and people hate it. I may have started out seeing TikTok as just another social media app, or even a waste of time, but due to the pandemic, I now see it in a new light. In some ways, it is a way for people to express their creativity, to try new things, and inspire others when personal interaction is limited. It is a reminder that you are not alone in this time of hurt and crisis—what better way to relax over the pandemic than making these fun videos and seeing so many other people doing the same. In addition, emotions are high during the pandemic as it sometimes seems it will never end, that everything is out of your control, and there is a lot of repetition. It almost seems like we are in the movie “Groundhog Day.” TikTok is the perfect way to funnel those emotions everyone has been feeling and at minimum provides a lighthearted break from the world. As I open the app, I am instantly engulfed in uplifting and positive videos, comedy videos that truly make me laugh, and a feeling of empathy towards others that reassures me that I am not the only one living through this event that is changing history. Furthermore, one of the most important parts of being socially distanced and quarantined is communication. It is easy to lose communication with friends and distant family members during a pandemic, yet one of the things TikTok offers about this pandemic is ironically connection, just not in person. This app provides a means of communication that no other app possesses and a sense of community, even if it is an odd one.
This article and Tiktok itself are important to me because they show that TikTok and other social media platforms can truly bring people of all ages together in ways that surprised me. This includes not just young kids, but all generations of people as well as whole families. Social media has always been around and growing, and every generation has its phase, whether it’s MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, or Tiktok. However, what truly makes this app important to me is its ability to show a lighthearted and fun side of a world facing not-so-lighthearted issues for all generations. I don’t know what will happen to it in the days or weeks ahead, but TikTok has definitely left its mark on society during this time.

This object is a news article about the popular app TikTok, as well as the effect the coronavirus pandemic has had on its rapid growth, in not only the U.S., but throughout the rest of the world as well. In addition, this article talks about the longevity of this app and whether it is just a phase, if it is here to stay in the long run, or even if it will be banned. I think that I speak for many people when I say that during quarantine, I have slowly seen an unfortunate rise in screen time on all of my devices and social media outlets. One of the many reasons why this has happened is because of the availability of TikTok. But what makes TikTok special? Why is it that millions of Americans have downloaded it and spent their precious time watching short clips of their favorite content creators? Why are people of all ages and generations making videos of themselves dancing and better yet, sharing it with others? There is not one clear answer to these questions, but rather a variety of reasons people have incorporated TikTok into their daily lives. I found this article from an online news outlet called “The Drum.” (https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2020/05/27/how-tiktok-thrived-during-coronavirus-and-will-it-last)

The author of this article is Ben Jeffries.

May 27, 2020

Ben Jeffries.

Konner Smith

News article

English Emotion

English Health & Wellness

English News coverage

English Social Media (including Memes)

English Technology

English Recreation & Leisure

TikTok

mental health

positivity

connection

friends

de-stress

Gen Z

millenial

COVID-19

mask

creativity

break

laugh

dance

relief

de-stress

share

throwback

together

generations

empathy

strength

virus

millions

global

society

friends

entertain

communicate

connect

Humor

Performing Arts

09/03/2020

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07/11/2021

05/27/2020