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Haoyu Huang

07/07/2022

WRIT-1133

TIKTOK INTERVIEW NOTE

For this paper, I interviewed one of my best friends and Tik Tok lover Johan James for about half an hour. My specific questions to him were about the overall experience of this app and why the app has gained a lot of popularity, especially during the Covid 19 period. I ensured that he did most of the talking and answered all the questions without interrupting him.

According to my interview, a number of short-form video options accessible on this social media platform range in length from fifteen seconds to three minutes with the use of the available background music. With 500 million active users throughout the globe, this app has swiftly become the most popular on the internet among teens and young adults. He says that statistics show that TikTok has captivated the younger generation, with 90% of them regularly using the app. TikTok has tremendously influenced today's youngsters because of its quick and steady expansion. TikTok, according to James, is the most widely used app, attracting the attention of millions of people worldwide. Even if it has many benefits, it cannot be excused for the problems it has created so far. So, to conclude, it is necessary to consider both sides of the argument.

James believes TikTok's content diversity is why it is so popular among teenagers. Tiktok started as a place where individuals could upload videos of themselves doing lip syncs, dancing, and other embarrassing things. However, as time goes on, a wide range of material is being developed, from motivational films to instructive videos, business advice to cosmetic instructions to comedy skits to scientific experiments! 'For You Page,' a feature of TikTok's app, allows users to access an infinite stream of short videos that may seem tailored just for them.

The other reason is that TikTok's popularity as a trending topic is one of the many reasons why it has grown to such proportions in recent years. Trends may swiftly spread throughout TikTok thanks to shared sounds, hashtags, and topics, all starting with a single video. TikTok's recent craze, for example, is a dance challenge based on popular songs or videos and popular in-app filters. Currently popular internet trends are given top priority by the algorithm. The more popular a trend becomes among teens, the more likely it is that others will follow suit and generate material that is in keeping with the current craze.

TikTok, in James' opinion, offers a broad variety of advantages to its customers. One of the biggest advantages is that it has a lot of fun to do. He states that "On Tiktok, you may not only do your favorite dance moves and create entertaining movies, but you can also use these talents to get new friends and fans". Even more importantly, if the users want to be famous, TikTok is the fastest and most convenient method. Everyone has access to TikTok, therefore anybody can obtain fame instantaneously by creating interesting videos. Although the material must have the ability to engage the audience, this is not a must. He states that another advantage is that the users may make money off of TikTok by creating content on the app.

He also states that TikTok has many advantages, but we must also be mindful of the negative impacts that might result from its overuse. In the beginning, the app was meant to be fun and entertaining, but youngsters are becoming more addicted to it. As a consequence, it has heightened tensions among parents. TikTok doesn't even contribute anything to people's mental processes. There have been reports of individuals trolling others on the basis of their faith on this app.

In his opinion, Most of us, as teens in the midst of the epidemic, have been pushed to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, spending hours each day in front of a computer screen while dealing with mountains of schoolwork, projects, and worry. As a consequence, this app has become a go-to escape for young people looking to escape the monotony of their everyday lives. There are creative challenges and dances individuals create for others to imitate on TikTok, which makes it an interactive experience. In addition, it delivers a continual stream of entertaining material. All work and no play make Jack a dull lad, as the adage goes. So TikTok may have a beneficial influence on the kids in terms of entertainment since its users find it incredibly fascinating to browse through.

The paucity of content on the TikTok app is another important issue, he notes. Parents are afraid about their children's prospects because of the disgusting sexual material they are exposed to. The app should have a sixteen-year-old minimum age restriction. It is still much simpler for youngsters to pretend to be older in order to get access. Scammers are taking advantage of this software to prey on impressionable young women. They demand personal information from the females and compel them to upload obscene images. The government should recognize the gravity of the situation and keep a close eye on the rapid expansion of the TikTok app in order to mitigate its negative effects and allow it to remain a source of amusement for its users. Briefly said, there are advantages and disadvantages to using the TikTok app. As long as we don't do anything, we'll confront a long list of additional concerns that can't be undone in the future. To prevent their children from being addicted to this software, parents must keep a close eye on them. In addition, the government should take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of its citizens.

James also stated that when TikTok is exploited by youngsters who lack self-control, it may have a detrimental influence. Since the program offers an "endless stream" of information at roughly 30 seconds apiece, it makes it impossible for the user to become bored. It's quite simple to sink into the TikTok abyss and emerge hours later having wasted a whole day. Addiction to viewing videos for lengthy periods of time is possible for teens that use the app often because of this. A loss of focus, lack of sleep, and procrastination are all possible consequences of a lack of sleep. Because of this, it's important for kids at this stage of development to avoid becoming sidetracked by things like hobbies and interests that may otherwise keep them from completing the important tasks at hand. For these reasons and more, teens should exercise caution while using TikTok, which offers both pros and downsides.

In summation, my interviewee said that With TikTok, users may make dance compilations, tell humorous jokes, and show off their abilities in a variety of ways. Social media platforms may be useful in moderation if used properly but can have negative consequences if they are overused. Personally, I don't believe TikTok is either good or terrible since it all depends on how it's used by its user. In addition to being a great source of pleasure, TikTok may also be used for educational reasons. However, if the user wants to stay connected to the real world, they may want to set time limits for how much time they spend on the app. As long as they utilize it the right manner, I feel there are more advantages than damage to Tiktok.