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TikTok is huge in popularity right now, and these 10 advantages of TikTok might just be why.
As we know, TikTok is booming with popularity right now. Kids, teens, adults, and even seniors are on the app – scrolling, posting, and engaging.
In a previous post, I put together all the disadvantages of TikTok. From time-wasting to self-compassion, and everything in between, that post really dives deep into the potentially harmful effects of TikTok.
But, what about the advantages of TikTok?
Surely there have to be some good things about TikTok that keep users engaged and dedicated, despite any negative effects.
Let’s explore these positive effects of TikTok together.
10 Top Advantages of TikTok
These TikTok advantages range from casual entertainment to really practical life choices. Let’s break it down.
Advantages of TikTok – Entertainment & Inspiration
1. TikTok Holds Your Attention
It’s not a coincidence that TikTok videos are extremely short. With most videos under one minute long (although TikTok recently upped their max video length to three minutes). This is, in fact, highly intentional.
These short, concise, and often entertaining videos are short to keep you entertained. The average human attention span has recently dropped to just eight seconds.
Yes, you read that right. Eight seconds.
Although most TikToks are longer than eight seconds, they are still short, digestible, entertaining videos that appeal to our shortened attention span. In comparison to movies, TV shows, or even YouTube videos, TikTok videos are much more appealing to our goldfish-like attention span.
This can be seen as a negative but, if you are looking for some quick, easy, mindless entertainment, you might view this as a positive of TikTok.
2. TikTok Encourages Human Interaction
With the current events in the world, this feels like even more of an advantage of TikTok.
While it could be said that all social media encourages human interaction, TikTok tends to consist of more personal, detailed, and honest videos. Oftentimes, sensitive or controversial topics are covered in TikTok videos. Then, with the use of the “for you” page, TikTok recommends videos specific to what they think you will like.
This promotes a feeling of connection and human interaction.
When you are viewing and listening to people that share similar views, beliefs, or experiences with you, you are more likely to feel connected to them. This may lead to you commenting, liking, sharing, or even dueting their post.
3. TikTok Offers a Sense of Community
Similar to the TikTok advantage above, TikTok can be a great platform to build a community of people that care about similar things as you.
One major example on the TikTok app is the body acceptance, ED recovery, anti-diet, etc. community. This is one that I know well because I am part of it.
With this, TikTok can help individuals feel understood and supported through encouragement or relation to other people. In a world that often feels divided, this is a major advantage of Tktok.
4. TikTok Teaches You New Things
TikTok, in some ways, is educational. While there is definitely some content that is not educationally beneficial, there is also a lot that is.
The topics that TikTok videos cover are very broad. What you see is likely a result of your personalized “for you” page, meaning the videos are catered to you.
Some educational topics on TikTok include:
- current events
- mental health awareness
- cooking videos/recipes
- politics
- life hacks
- cleaning hacks
- K-12 education
- nutrition
That said, many of these topics require you to be a cautious and conscious consumer. While educational information is a huge advantage of TikTok, misinformation is a huge disadvantage of TikTok.
Before you take anything as fact (from TikTok or elsewhere), be sure you are critically thinking about it and fact-checking when necessary.
5. TikTok Offers Everyday Inspiration
TikTok can be a great source of motivation for your everyday life. With short, romanticized clips strung together into one video, TikTok creators have a way of evoking inspiration for their audience.
Whether it be the TikTok “That Girl” trend, aesthetic morning routines, or videos romanticizing their life, creators of aesthetically pleasing videos seem to be incredibly popular on the app. One advantage of these videos on TikTok is the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and self-care.
That said, it’s important to keep in mind that these videos are highly curated, filtered, and edited. Self-comparison with these videos can leave you feeling negative and counteract the advantages altogether. Consume these with caution and mindfulness.
Advantages of TikTok – Career, Finance, and Work
Beyond entertainment and inspiration, some advantages of TikTok are actually work-related. These benefits of TikTok include occupational, business, and financial growth.
6. TikTok Can Earn You Money
Or, rather, you can earn money on TikTok.
With the right following, TikTok can become a full-time job. Simple as that.
While the money doesn’t come directly from TikTok, brands utilize TikTok as a form of marketing. The term “TikTok influencer” refers to those people making an income from their TikTok videos.
Once a strong following develops, the opportunity to collaborate with brands for money is there. TikTok influencers have the ability to make millions.
The best part is, nearly anybody can become a TikTok influencer.
Now, don’t take that as me saying it’s “easy” to become a TikTok creator/influencer. In fact, many influencers say they put in full-time working hours on TikTok. However, you do not need any education, experience, or pre-existing following to gain a TikTok following.
Know your strengths, create engaging content, appeal to your audience, understand trends, and you may be on the path to becoming a TikTok influencer.
7. TikTok Can Grow Your Existing Business
If you are already a business owner or an aspiring entrepreneur, TikTok can be a great tool for driving people to your company. In a sense, TikTok is an advertising channel. If you want to get your name, brand, or company out there, TikTok is a potential way to reach a huge amount of people in a short amount of time.
People in all different careers utilize TikTok for business growth.
Bloggers, dieticians, life coaches, professional organizers, curly hair coaches, lash artists, etc. are all examples of entrepreneurs I have seen grow using TikTok.
Even if you are not aiming to be a TikTok influencer, you can still utilize the platform for financial and professional gain. View your TikTok as a way to sell your business.
Highlight your skills, offer useful information and valuable videos, link back to your business, and watch your business grow.
8. TikTok Promotes Networking
Is TikTok the new LinkedIn? 😉
I don’t know if I’d go that far… but TikTok can be a great resource for networking and forming business connections with others in your field. You never know who’s videos you will stumble across on TikTok.
The potential to find future business opportunities through TikTok connections is there. Know your niche and don’t be afraid to reach out and build connections.
9. TikTok Teaches New Skills
No matter where you are in your career, there is ALWAYS room for you to learn and grow. The opportunity to hear from other professionals in your field is a huge advantage of TikTok.
Whether a hands-on demonstration or a short talking explanation, TikTok offers you the ability to learn, grow, and better your skills. Regardless of your profession or focus, you can benefit from TikTok in this way.
10. TikTok Offers New Opportunities
TikTok can be a great source of inspiration for potential work or career options. There are so many creative and unique career opportunities that you may have never thought possible. TikTok is a way for you to see how these dreams can be a reality.
Surprising and eye-opening videos circulate TikTok every day – work-related videos are no exception.
For example, I came across a TikTok of a girl explaining how she makes a comfortable income through freelance writing. Or another girl explaining that her full-time job is being a curly hair coach.
These are two career paths that I had never considered. TikTok can help open your eyes to the possibilities that are open to you.
These are 10 major advantages of TikTok…
So where is the downfall? Is TikTok all roses and butterflies?
Not necessarily. There are also some disadvantages of TikTok to be aware of.
5 Major Disadvantages of TikTok
While we’ve covered all the major advantages of TikTok, it’s important to also be aware of the potential negative effects of TikTok.
1. TikTok Leads to Comparision
Comparision to others online almost always leads to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority. While TikTok has many advantages, it’s important to remember that the content on the app is still curated and manipulated.
Solution: Limit yourself from content that makes you feel poorly about your own life. Don’t compare your behind-the-scenes life to someone else’s TikTok highlight reel.
2. TikTok Can Be a Platform for Bullying
As with all online activities, there is a high risk for bullying, harassment, or otherwise hateful speech. This, unfortunately, seems to be an unavoidable effect of social media. TikTok is reported to be in the top 3 highest rates of cyberbullying on social media.
Solution: Be aware, be cautious, and seek support when necessary.
3. TikTok Wastes Time
As we talked about in TikTok advantage #1, TikTok holds your attention. By appealing to the short attention span, TikTok keeps you entertained for hours.
That’s not always a good thing…
As of a 2021 study, it was found that TikTok users spend over 24 hours a month consuming TikTok content. That is one full day of TikTok scrolling every month. That’s a lot of time that could be put into something else.
Solution: Be aware of your TikTok screentime. Consider setting limits and boundaries with your TikTok time.
4. TikTok Spreads Misinformation
While the ability for anyone to have a voice can be a major advantage of TikTok, it comes with a downside too. Nearly anyone has the ability to put out content on TikTok, meaning that misinformation can be spread quite easily.
Solution: As a consumer, fact-check any important information you see on the app. As a producer, do not produce any information that could be harmful or untrue.
5. TikTok Contains Inappropriate Content
The largest group of TikTok users is under age 19.
32.5% of users fall in the 10-19 age group.
With this, it’s especially important to note that TikTok is home to a lot of explicit content. Explicit language, sexual acts, violence, drug use, etc. are all things that are on TikTok.
TikTok can be an unsafe place for kids. There are certain precautionary measures that you may want to consider for underage TikTok users.
Solution: Utilize TikTok’s safety features for children, teens, and sensitive audiences.
So, Is TikTok Good for You?
This is a loaded question. While there are many advantages to TikTok, there are also some big disadvantages to Tiktok. How these balance out is entirely up to you.
Your TikTok usage is highly personal. Maybe you don’t feel negatively impacted by the app at all. Rather, you feel that TikTok benefits you through creativity, knowledge, and entertainment. That’s great! It sounds like the answer is yes! TikTok is good for you!
On the other hand, if you feel entertained by TikTok but also find yourself wasting time, comparing yourself, and feeling negative after scrolling the app, then the answer may be no. TikTok is not good for you.
Depending on your usage habits and what you are consuming, TikTok can be a beneficial platform or a harmful distraction. Only you can make that decision!
What advantages of TikTok do you enjoy the most?
Do you scroll for entertainment? Or maybe you even make some money through the popular app? Why do you choose TikTok? What makes the app appeal to you?
Leave me a comment below letting me know why you TikTok!
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