Lauren Doherty, Editor-in-Chief
@LDohertyCourant
Few teenagers go a full day without opening up TikTok on their phone and swiping through their “For You Page” mindlessly. Little do they know, the popular social media app has used their data to really make the “For You Page” for them.
The app has amassed over 800 million users worldwide, engaging them in content that can both entertain and inform. So what is it that makes TikTok so popular? Well, it’s addicting algorithm of video recommendations is a huge factor. When the app is opened, it immediately loads a series of videos that the user swipes through. These videos are customized using behavioral and technical information the app has collected from you. While this makes the stream of videos incredibly appealing to the user, it can be a little concerning when a video on that book you just ordered from Amazon appears.
The information TikTok has gathered on its users is exactly what has U.S. government officials concerned. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. The worry from the U.S. government is that if the Chinese government demanded TikTok to hand over information, they would be required to hand them the data they have collected on countless Americans. President Trump said in an August statement, “There is credible evidence that leads me to believe that ByteDance… might take action that threatens to impair the national security of the United States.”
The United States demanded that ByteDance sell TikTok to an American company or have the app removed from the country. On September 15, an American technology company, Oracle, purchased the app. Oracle will be joining forces with Walmart to form a new United States based entity, TikTok Global. President Trump has given approval to this deal which will allow TikTok to continue to flourish in the country. Safra Catz, the Oracle CEO, said in a recent statement, “We are a hundred percent confident in our ability to deliver a highly secure environment to TikTok and ensure data privacy to TikTok’s American users, and users throughout the world.”
Despite the data privacy concerts, TikTok has fostered a sense of community, making a cultural stamp in Gen-Z. The app has gathered a cult-following and has exploded in a similar way to how YouTube and Instagram have, with “influencers” setting the trends. TikTok’s most followed creator, 16-Year-Old Charli D’Amelio, has amassed nearly 100 million followers. Whether it’s the outfit she wears, the song she dances to, or the brand she advertises, she instantly creates trends that are emulated by millions.
However, TikTok has done more than simply provide a form of entertainment. The app has also become an educational source, spreading news and information about important topics. Particularly, news about the coronavirus and politics have spread throughout the social media platform.
For many young voters, TikTok is playing a huge role in who they choose to vote for in the upcoming election. The hashtags #Trump2020 and #Biden2020, have more than 15 billion views combined. Videos about the subject range from teenage activists to presidential nominees themselves. As we approach closer and closer to the election, and more of gen-z reaches the voting age, their impact grows in size. The influence young voters have from social media apps, including TikTok, is huge. Just like how magazines or television commercials have influenced the older generations, social media platforms hold their power over gen-z. While many argue the importance of not trusting what you hear on TikTok, as it is not a reputable source, the same can be applied to nearly anything found online.
The Black Lives Matter movement, which held many protests throughout the country after the murder of George Floyd in late May, reached countless young ears on the platform. The hashtag #BlackLivesMatter has over 22 billion views on TikTok. These videos come from many points of views, both Liberals and Conservatives, Democrats and Republicans. Videos range from violent protests in the streets of American cities to heartwarming videos of two young children, one black and one white, hugging and playing together.
Similarly, news sources like NBC or even Fox News, have used the platform to reach more people. There are also many videos with messages coming directly from political activists, with millions of likes and comments supporting or tearing down at their views.
TikTok has fostered the growth of a more educated generation of young adults. Due to the presence of the internet, gen-z is more aware and educated than any other generation was in their teenage years. The abundance of resources at our fingertips gives us access to information which allows us to formulate our own opinions. TikTok has become another way for us to express our opinions, from simple things such as showing our favorite outfits to demonstrating our views on women’s rights. The app has unified us with a common purpose — to make a difference.
Gen-Z has the potential to change the world in ways never done before. We are being faced with serious challenges and, truly, the only way we will be able to solve these problems is to work together to find a solution. So, while TikTok is simply just an app for entertaining videos on the surface, it really has allowed the creation of a community that unifies the younger generations and allows them to educate, connect, and grow together to someday create a better future.
