How TikTok became more popular
The journey of TikTok has been a marvelous one so far. Within a year, it has managed to be among the most downloaded applications of all time, and that speaks volumes about the popularity enjoyed by this app.
Many simply find TikTok cringe-worthy but it does not take away the serious success that the app has enjoyed. The simple ‘fear of missing out’ induces more to join this social media platform and with the passing days, it is becoming all the more popular, surpassing the likes of Twitter and Instagram.
The advent of TikTok:
TikTok was launched in China as Douyin and soon the company procured Musical.ly. Thus, with a strengthened product, they hit the markets with this much-loved social media platform. It enabled people to explore their creative side with limited means from the comfort of their residence.
The videos can be edited with lip-syncing and there are several tools to perfect the editing. To point out the sudden rise in TikTok’s popularity, let us put before you some statistics.
- In the year 2019, it ranked second with 740 million downloads, closely trailing Whatsapp. The nearest competition was from Facebook Messenger which had 20 million fewer downloads that
- When it comes to the number of active users, with 800 million it might be trailing the likes of Instagram and Facebook, but it must also be taken into consideration that these platforms have existed for years. As a new addition, TikTok has already surpassed Snapchat and Twitter with its number of active users.
How it works:
The idea behind the working of TikTok is simple. You can follow an individual and be followed and this is how your connections grow. Unlike applications like Facebook and Instagram, the videos available before you are carefully crafted and almost never-ending.
They do not follow a set pattern or algorithms like Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook. You can also become a star overnight with a good video even if you did not have a large number of followers, to begin with. Some viral videos get people instant fame, a major attraction for the youth.
TikTok Sensations:
There are some of the TikTok stars who have become so popular that more and more people join to replicate their success. Some of these stars are cultivated by TikTok itself.
Their popularity is often the dream for the youth and that is precisely the target audience for TikTok. They have a large number of young users with more than 40% consisting of people between the ages group of 14-25.
They take up challenges like the Renegade Challenge or the Yeehaw Challenge. The challenges are initiated by some popular personalities and soon it becomes a trend to be followed. The Renegade Challenge, for instance, involves dancing in a particular style and has been attempted by millions.
Some of the best-known TikTok stars are Baby Ariel, Zach King, Loren Grey, and many others who have entertained their followers consistently with their videos. Even celebrity singers actors and actresses have joined this platform helping the popularity soar further.
Where and how it managed to surpass Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter:
While you might argue about Twitter being a more serious platform offering better use, the success of TikTok narrates a different story. Here we have listed some probable reasons as to how TikTok rapidly became a favorite among users:
- It is easier to use than some of its competitors. Once you get the hang of things, TikTok does not require writing skills or serious knowledge of subjects to speak about.
- The interaction is usually on a lighter note and thus people seek out some entertainment through this platform.
- As per some reports of the New York Times, TikTok adheres to strict policies online and stands up to all forms of abuse, bullying, and cyber malpractices. This is also a strength that is lacking in the competitors.
- Instant stardom is hard to come by with Twitter or Instagram. It takes years of work and content to reach a certain number of followers. But for TikTok, there have been cases of overnight sensations due to a viral video.
According to the experts, the meteoric rise in popularity of TikTok is here to stay and can grow shortly.