Ahhhh, TikTok: One of the things we've all come to love during our extended time at home. Because of quarantine, it has become one of our coping mechanisms and has become an outlet for us to release our creative juices and connect with new people. The app gets so much flack for being filled with Gen Z references but in reality, it's a social networking site that caters to so many niches and interests-be it fashion, food, music, beauty, or even weird ASMR videos, there's something on TikTok for everyone.
Besides, what they say about it is true: Tiktok is the new platform to discover and *be discovered.* Virality is within reach, one might say it can be achieved within 15 seconds. If you dream of being a content creator, TikTok is the place to be right now because it's where everyone is right now and it's easier to get your name out there.
Want to learn more about your new favorite app? Here's the lowdown on TikTok:Â
History of TikTok
The history of TikTok goes waaaay back, and by way back, we mean it all started in 2012 when Zhang Yiming of Beijing created an app called ByteDance. This same app was launched in 2016 as Douyin, aka the chinese version of TikTok, and a year later merged with two U.S. video apps you might be familiar with-Flipagram and Musical.ly. By March 2019, TikTok surpassed 1 billion downloads on both the Apple App Store and Google Play. Since then, it has given birth to popularity of stars worldwide, like Lil Nas X, Charli D'Amelio, Addison Rae. It has also paved the way for Pinoy content creators like Inka Magnaye, Marvin Fojas, and Rain Matienzo.
Why TikTok?Â
It is one of the most widely used apps all over the world and you never know who might come across your videos. Currently, there are almost 1 billion active users in the platform and it has grown so much over quarantine. The interest in TikTok is growing daily and you might as well leverage it on the platform before it gets too saturated.
How to become TikTok famousÂ
Like any social media app, there's no surefire way to go viral. It's all a mix of luck and a bit of hard work but if you're looking to be the next viral thing on TikTok, here are some tips you might want to keep in mind:Â
It's all in the hooks
The most important part of any TikTok video is the first 3 seconds because you have to catch your audience's attention. Failing to do so may lead them to scroll past your video on their For You Page and miss their chance to discover what you have to offer.Â
@candymagdotcom Where's my LISA stans at? It's ya gurl ##CandyRookie Brigette @brigettereyesss and here's my take on the city girls choreo ?##fyp ##citygirls ##xyzbca
? City Girls by Chris Brown - Lexie
Jump on trends (quickly!)
The thing about TikTok is that trends come and go in the blink of an eye. So when you see something trendy that you can hop on, whether it's a dance craze, a sound, a lipsync, or something totally random-our advice is to just go for it!Â
@candymagdotcom Let's go ##modeling101. Did it work? ???? Lemme know if I'm gonna start waiting for Dior. ???? Show me your ##modelfacechallenge too! ##candyrookie2021 ##fyp
? Bishop Briggs - River - churro310
Create your own trends by making shareable content
But if you're more of a leader than a follower, why not make your own trends? There are always new things coming up on the app and we're sure that you'll find inspiration within a few scrolls on your FYP. Discovered a new song? Make a choreography or sing a cover! Found the weirdest, most interesting finds on Shopee or Lazada? Make a haul out of it! Whatever it may be, just have fun and create genuine, authentic content that will garner the attention of whoever may be watching.
@candymagdotcom ???????Here are some fat burning workouts that worked for me, @buhaynicy ! ##tiktokskwela ##startstrongwithtiktok ##fitnessph ##fyp ##tiktokph ##fitnesstips
? ItsJustNife DC Mix - Nifè
But, how safe is TikTok?Â
Despite the multiple safety concerns raised about the app in the past few years, the BusinessInsider says that there really isn't much risk for the average TikTok user. "TikTok does not pose any particular risks to average users," says Brian Turner, chief technical officer of Convert Binary, in the article. It's common for social media apps to go under fire since we're sharing our personal information in such public spaces but with precautions, it would be easy to minimize the risk of data mining and other potential privacy issues. They say that there aren't really big differences between TikTok and other popular social apps, like Facebook and Instagram, except that it's Chinese-owned.
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