Why is TikTok so popular?

[AlPras]

Why is TikTok so popular among young people? Seems to be everywhere these days although I'm not sure I fully grasped the extent as to how popular it was.

I read today that 84% of young women and 67% of young men use TikTok regularly which is insane to me and I did not think it was that popular (The original source is this report I think: https://ukonward.com/reports/ballot-of-the-sexes/).

I have managed to keep my DD and DS off of it so far, but they keep coming home and saying that they are missing out and all their friend use it etc. etc.

I just don't get why they all use it so much? Is it the dopamine craving of constant short video hits? Is it internet FOMO? Perplexed by it.

powerful marketing with "clever" algorithms @AlPras

It delivers a constant stream of short/easy video content.

Its so easy for our youngsters to use and engage with.

Kids just want to be a part of "their tribe" and like minded pals.

It's worth monitoring, you're not wrong.

Short attention spans.

Yes it's dopamine, not wanting to miss out, and for some of them wanting to build their own platform.

They are built to deliver new content at certain intervals to keep you interested. It actually becomes quite boring when you spot the pattern.

I've absolutely no idea I was flicking through today on my break and watching some girl had smeared chocolate spread on her pj bottoms to make it look like she soiled herself and was walking around filming her fellas reaction, honestly I was completely baffled wondering what on earth had become of people

I do hear a lot about how good the algorithm is. Is it just really good at recommending stuff it thinks someone will want to watch? I saw something saying that it used personal data to do that and was really invasive, which is one of the main reasons I do not want it on my kids devices.

I use it a bit, less now I have a toddler! The trick is to find content you want to follow and then flick straight to ‘following’ when you open the app. I largely ignore the ‘for you’ and totally ignore the ‘explore’ options. I follow a lot of historians, a few funny accounts, a few friends. I’m blissfully unaware of TikTok trends, stupid AI videos and all the other crap that’s on there.

I am on it since I had an operation and was bed bound. But I do as PP said and open the app and go straight on to ‘following’ I am loving ‘cleantok’and literally watch people clean, clever organising things and decorate and then I do it in my own house. My house has never been so perfect even with multiple children. So it can be useful if used right

Good to know that there is some good on there too. I use YouTube all the time these days for gardening, learning, etc.

I guess maybe TikTok is the new YouTube for the next gen?

I can never get into video based social media, especially the short form ones like tiktok. Maybe I'm just too old for it. Do many older people (I'm early 30s) use it or is it mostly teenagers?

I mean I’m on it and I’m in my 40s! It learns what you like. It’s amazing really.

Figure 28 in the report I linked earlier (https://ukonward.com/reports/ballot-of-the-sexes/) seems to say that 65% of 31-35 year old women and 58% of 31-35 year old men use it regularly.

So lower than those in their 20s, but still a lot of people! I don't get it either.

I'm on it and I my 50s. I love all the historical videos and recipes and women's issues.

What are the historical videos? 🙂

I’m 42. I would never dream of watching random YouTube videos, only use that if I need a DIY demo or similar, but the short form of TikTok appeals. I usually watch it while I’m doing my (lengthy) dental care routine before bed.

I’m in my late 30s and love TikTok. It’s my favourite place for political commentary, especially with understanding what’s going on in the US at the moment, from the grassroots. The algorithm is very good at learning what you like, my feed isn’t silly dancing videos or bad comedy or whatever people expect from TikTok. It’s shorter YouTube, 5-10 minute videos mostly for me

I follow a few historical tour guides so get little snippets of interesting information about different places, a couple of mudlarkers as I find that interesting, a couple of museums that do short videos about particular exhibits (especially stuff from their stores that aren’t on display).

Oh (and there’s a few of these) but great content to show kids that might be blasé about internet safety are the likes of JoseMonkey who has people submit a few seconds of video of where they are and uses all kinds of clever methods to pinpoint the exact spot they’re standing in to film. Often not a road sign or a registration plate or any really identifiable landmarks in evidence. I find it fascinating and a real reminder that anyone who wanted to find you from your social content could do so; no matter how ‘anonymous’ you think it is.

For example, historical items that survived (tutors, victorians ...) Marie Antoinette's wardrobe, kitchens in 1940s!

That sounds like it could be interesting! Maybe I should.give it a proper chance, I'd dismissed it as just teenagers doing makeup and dancing.

@Bluejay0I used to think that too, but it really isn’t (or needn’t be). There’s some really educational content out there, gets you thinking about all sorts of issues.

Type in to the search what ever you are interested in. I love social history, e.g. the history of hair styles or hats or buttons! It takes you on a wild journey if you ask it and then your feed follows that theme.

You have to battle through all that shite initially, until it knows what you like. Long press on vids you don’t like and choose “not interested”. I do that with anything to do with football or dancing and it sorts everything out for a few weeks. Until it shows me football again. 🙄 All I want is cute animals, art and stuff about the USA turning into Gilead.

I'm not young, but I use TikTok, and the reasons I think it's so popular are:

The algorithm is very good. It learns very quickly what type of content you're interested in and so it's constantly providing you with a stream of relevant and entertaining content. This is the most important thing I think.

There's something on TikTok for everyone. I know some Mumsnetters dismiss it as they think it's just a load of teenagers doing dance routines to pop songs, but there's something for all ages and all interests.

It's very addictive - a constant stream of short and entertaining videos. People who are always online have a short attention span, and TikTok is a good way to fill up a bit of time when you're bored.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend TikTok, as it's very addictive and takes up a lot of my time (although if I wasn't on TikTok I'd probably just be on Instagram, Facebook or Mumsnet instead), but it's very popular for a good reason.

Honestly, it figures out the type of person you are very quickly and steers you to content you will enjoy. I’m middle aged, it sends me middle aged women discussing issues like you see on here, fashion I might like, I’m interested in vintage, decor, comedians I like, recipes current news, GC, menopause (eye roll but true) and I’ve found and learnt many things since I joined a couple of years ago. Very much like Mumsnet now I come to think of it.

It's having a massive impact on education as kids can no longer concentrate for any length of time. I have seen a huge change in how kids approach things in the classroom and with all the good will in the world we teachers can't chunk lessons in to 30 second sound bites!