By Kelly Lewis
If you know me, you know that I hate most social media apps because of the perception of the “perfect life.” Ironic, right? Being a communications major and holding multiple social media positions, you may think I have at least 1,000 Instagram followers with an aesthetically pleasing theme and consistent posting schedule. Wrong! I rarely post on Instagram, I have zero Snapchat streaks, and I occasionally post pictures on Facebook to update family members. But when it comes to helping someone else or a business with social media – I love it! I have no problem researching, creating, and posting intriguing content to help grow their following.
From a business perspective, I think social media is a great way to network and communicate, but from a personal perspective, I think it can be detrimental. Our generation uses Instagram to post the highlight reels of one’s life. The problem is that followers only see the best recaps of a user’s life, creating a façade of perfection. In reality, everyone struggles, but most choose not to address their struggles. This causes us to compare our lives to the unrealistic standards we see on Instagram. Keep in mind: almost every Instagram post has been edited or altered in some way. I’ve witnessed social media consume too many people around me and I don’t want the same to happen to me. I don’t want to constantly worry about how I look online and how others perceive my life.
So, when TikTok rose to popularity, I refused to join the cult. However, over time, my friends downloaded the app, and like any other social media app, I felt like I was missing out. About a year ago, when the pandemic hit, I reluctantly downloaded TikTok out of FOMO (fear of missing out) and boredom. To my dismay, I have yet to regret this decision. I hope TikTok doesn’t lose its stride because I am here for it!
For those who live under a rock – let me explain - TikTok is one of the fastest-growing social media apps that allows users around the world to create and share videos. The videos range from 15 seconds to one minute, and there are all sorts of genres. Some of the most popular videos are dancing and comedy. Nothing appears to be off-limits on TikTok, which is surprising considering the many rules and restrictions. For example, Twitter has strict policies outlining what users can and can’t say.
Although I may spend too much time on the app, it brings me joy. TikTok is the first app where I never think twice about posting, which is crazy! For Instagram, it takes days to pick a photo, edit it, and draft a caption. But, for TikTok, I will film a funny and stupid dance with my friends and have no shame posting it for all of my 22 followers to watch!
The community on TikTok has a different vibe from other apps - in my experience, there is little to no hate or negativity, and users strive to support and inform one another on various subjects. For example, during National Eating Disorder Awareness week, TikTok was flooded with users sharing their stories (failures and successes), encouraging, and informing others. I’ve watched dozens of videos of women with all different kinds of body types dancing and the comment section cheering them on rather than bringing them down. Every user on TikTok has endured a battle or is enduring a battle, but rather than hiding it, they share it and embrace it.
Videos bring awareness to a variety of topics. I’ve seen it all: losing a loved one, long-distance relationships, depression, anxiety, abuse, race, gender, body image, addiction, injury, losing a job, the list goes on. There seems to be no judgment on TikTok. I hope TikTok continues to be a platform that addresses necessary conversations of the imperfect world we live in.
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