4 Fun Facts About TikTok
Written by Trinity Duong
Creator content has seen a new era within the media due to the presence and influence of TikTok. As it’s known for its unique publication of video media uploaded by singers, artists, dancers, and more, it has a known and strong impact when it comes to inspiring its algorithms audience. By inviting many from different walks of life to share with their friends and one point one billion users. Originally known as Musical.ly, its transition to TikTok has drastically changed many people’s perception of what they deem fashionable, humorous, and so on. It has completely altered the social media mindset for a new generation.
Getting to know the app more in-depth is truly interesting and will help make sense of the madness that it has created within the social media realm. Some fun facts include it being the most downloaded app globally within 2020 as well as it has a time management feature due to how much people use it. Its impact is clear by just these two facts, however, let’s delve deeper into the why.
1) Forty-one percent (approx.) of TikTok users are between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four
Before TikTok’s accelerated fame, Musical.ly had built the foundation with the design concept of it being structured around a younger demographic. This carried on into TikTok as it incorporates the ideals and morality that Generation Z wishes to uphold. With a platform that endorses self-expression through fashion, acting, dancing, as well as politics it’s no surprise why many are so invested in the application. Many young people also find it to be a technological escape and choose to spend more time on it because of technological advancements that have made social media a way of life. The nature of its content creation along with self-expression is something that many young people deem the most important to consume. There is more humanity and rawness within TikTok that many young people can’t find on other applications such as Instagram which can be painfully curated to perfection.
2) TikTok advertises against using the app too much
In 2019 TikTok introduced advertisements that encourage users to take breaks from the app. The advertisements were part of the “You’re in Control” content series that were designed to help users that frequented the application too much. With the boom of TikTok during the Covid-19 pandemic, the app jumped in numbers as many confined at home found it an entertaining way to pass time. By trying to prompt users to take a break these advertisements can show up after many hours spent on TikTok. The campaign also included many celebrities to try and influence users to drink or eat something because it’s easy to mindlessly scroll and forget about self-care.
There is also a screen time management featured that encourages less time spent on the app by putting a time limit to users’ daily usage. This was created due to the results of research into the effects of TikTok on the mental wellbeing and development of users. A multitude of studies has shown that watching short videos one after the other can reduce attention span and brain development.
3) TikTok is worth one hundred and forty billion US dollars
TikTok has become one of the world’s most popular and regularly used applications and social media platforms. In 2021, it reached the worth of one hundred and forty billion US dollars, more than doubling its revenue from 2019. And by prioritizing its content creations the app is profitable as the average TikTok influencer can earn between fifty thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand US dollars per year. Its creators have younger target audiences that have made a slightly addictive platform, therefore, explaining its increase in profit.
4) TikTok is one of the world’s most valuable start-ups
As TikTok is privately held by a company called Bytedance, this start-up that was founded in 2021 in China is now worth seventy-five billion US dollars. A start-up is a company that is privately held. This aids them in conducting their monetary capitalizations and something that is very rare for big companies. But because of TikToks virality, it’s a healthy system that’s able to scale upwards, therefore, making the firm’s value stand tall and one that won’t be sold to American corporations anytime soon.
These facts help users understand the app more in-depth and the interesting ways in which capitalism plays a vital role within the app whether it’s from profiting from being an influencer to the very foundation of its start-up. The narrative of targeting a younger generation is also a new era technique that is really valuable to understand. If you want to know more about the inner workings of TikTok you can read “TikTok and Fashion Marketing”.
