March 2020 will forever be synonymous with the beginning of a new reality – one of lockdowns, face masks and social distancing – driven by the ongoing pandemic. It also happened to be the month I hopped on the the social bandwagon and downloaded the popular video-sharing app TikTok for the first time. While I didn’t know it at the time, TikTok would go on to provide me with much-needed joy, solace and hope as I grappled with COVID-19’s impacts on my life.
After being forced to move back home indefinitely months earlier than I had planned, suddenly away from my friends and a campus I love, I found myself plagued overcome by an intense sense of isolation. I turned to TikTok (sometimes for hours at a time) to feel a sense of connection to other people my age who were dealing with similar emotions. I watched content ranging from complex discourse about the merits of communism to funny cat videos, and everything in between, all of which were somehow directed to my For You Page by TikTok’s sophisticated algorithm. And, while watching the news or browsing outlets like the New York Times made me feel nauseous, TikTok provided me with just enough easily-digestible information on current events and social issues to feel up to date.
While the main premise of Jacob Lewis’ argument in his piece “TikTok is slowing cultural progression” is that TikTok promotes the creation of simple, “over-produced” content that is the perfect venue for corporate exploitation, I would argue that independent TikTok creators have actually broadened my cultural awareness and sparked creativity in me that had been buried by schoolwork. By simply scrolling through and interacting with my For You Page, I have been introduced to countless films, books and TV shows that I would have never heard about otherwise. I even started listening to two of my favorite songs, “Mythological Beauty” by Big Thief and “Boyish” by Japanese Breakfast, after stumbling across them on TikTok.
Lewis holds that the claim that “there is a side of TikTok for every niche” is false, and that all TikTok creators essentially produce the same content. While many uber-popular creators (think à la Charli D’Amelio and Addison Rae) certainly fit that bill, there really is something for everyone on TikTok. I’ve even learned practical skills on the app! After starting a plant collection during the first major lockdown, I learned most of what I know about taking care of them from other plant-lovers who share their tips and tricks on Tiktokthe social media platform.
As a young lesbian, TikTok has offered me the space to connect with other LGBTQ+ people, even if just through a quick exchange in the comments of a queer person’s video. As mainstream media still tends to underrepresent LGBTQ+ experiences, it is validating for me to see authentic videos of real lesbians doing real life things like being in love, pursuing careers and dealing with heartbreak. This unique type of affirmation is what makes TikTok more than just an app for me, but an actual community where I can see myself reflected in the lives of thousands of other people.
In addition to providing me with opportunities for individual growth, TikTok has proven to be a useful platform for activism and crowdsourcing for people in crisis. At the height of the Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, Black TikTok creators shared footage from demonstrations in cities across the world and provided invaluable commentary on police brutality and racism. Their work has inspired countless people to take to the streets, donate to mutual aid and bail funds and support uplift the Black Lives Matter movement across social media. TikTok’s user base is so powerful that it significantly disrupted attendance at one of former president Donald Trump’s rallies and crowdsourced $12,000 for an 89-year-old pizza delivery man, both of which exemplify the peculiar aspect of TikTok that makes it perfect for widespread organizing between people who are miles apart.
Though TikTok exists within the inherently corrupt system of global capitalism – and is therefore ultimately driven by profit – , the app still provides users with the ability to create thought-provoking and unique content that challenges cultural norms, deepens my understanding of the structural issues within our society, and provides people like me with a place to feel seen and heard.
