Are you on any social media platform? I bet the answer is a resounding YES! We live in an era when social media has become unavoidable, if not an absolute necessity. Our social lives, businesses, and, for some, their self-worth revolve around it. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Vine are examples of such social media platforms.
However, there is one app that presently seems to have taken over the world by storm.
The TikTok app is relatively new to the market and quite entertaining.
Here are a few facts about TikTok:
TikTok is a social media application created in September 2016 in China by a company called Bytedance. Originally named Douyin, TikTok is a video sharing app used to share short dance or comedy videos and has gained millions of users globally.
Since its creation, the App has gained such popularity that in 2019 it ranked fourth as the most downloaded app. Sensor Tower reported that TikTok had surpassed the 1.5 billion downloads mark. This is an amazing fete, especially if one compares it to Facebook, which was established in 2006 and now has slightly over 2.6 billion users. This only serves to show that TikTok is a fast-growing application. It is available for download from Google playstore for Android and App Store for IoS.
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So who exactly are the consumers of TikTok?
Remember how, when Facebook and Instagram first came out, they were meant for the younger generation but were quickly ‘infiltrated’ by a much older generation? Well, this is what makes TikTok the favourite hang out for the young people. The older folk may find the app a bit complex probably because of the assumption that TikTok is only for sharing music videos and dance moves.
Another reason why TikTok is well-liked is that it does not have so much clout or fakeness, unlike Instagram. Instagram, or the Gram, is associated with a highly polished aesthetic, which is not always the reality. The influencers are usually prominent people, unlike TikTok influencers, mostly just teenagers who rely on being funny or engaging to their audience.
Although it is an app used globally, the content is localized. This means that the trends, videos, and celebrities to follow are focused on the user’s geographic location. But there is also the option of exploring other content trending all over the world.
The million-dollar question is, can one make money from TikTok?
Yes, you can. Many celebrities and influencers have used TikTok as a platform for marketing purposes. Manufacturers and producers who have products that target the youth have seen the opportunity that this app brings, and it has worked.
There are also other ways of making money:
- Amass a great following
- Create content that will go viral
- Sell products through TikTok live.
- Collecting donations which eventually translates to cash
- Manage influencer accounts
The bottom line is that TikTok is a rising star, and all the clamour is not about to stop anytime soon. If you do not get what the fuss is all about, download it, and you will quickly learn. Maybe you will also get to understand why it is so addictive amongst the youth.
