TikTok: The empire builder or the fake news spreader?

Almost daily, I find myself uttering the words “I saw on TikTok”, which is ironic since I was adamant I would never download the app in the first place. Now, here I am, one of the billion active TikTok users obsessed with the social networking site that currently dominates society.

For hours I could quite happily scroll through the thousands of fifteen second to three-minute videos and come away feeling satisfied with the time I spent on TikTok’s massive online space. The bite-sized format is perfect for those with a shorter attention span.

TikTok rose to prominence after Chinese tech giant ByteDance bought Musical.ly, a platform launched in 2014 where users created short videos – often featuring lip-syncing and dancing – with the intent to fold it in and launch the app we know and love today.

The new and improved format bought something unique to the table, allowing users almost full control of what they see, using specific algorithms to bring relevant content to your 'for you page'. This aspect led to the rise of the TikTok influencer, some of whom have built their brands from the followings they gained specifically on the app.

Charlie D’Amelio has 106M followers and recently launched a collaboration collection named Social Tourist with Fashion Giant Hollister, alongside sister Dixie, who has over 50M followers herself.

Bella Poarch’s cute TikTok videos saw her rise to fame seemingly overnight and bought her a successful following amongst her music releases Build a Bitch and INFERNO.

TikTok is a platform for the everyday person to create a future for themselves in the entertainment industry, and is a door-opener for the youth of today who may be struggling for work or unsure of the career path they wish to follow.

With the instant gratification some creators receive when posting a video and gaining millions of views in the span of a few days, it is no wonder the app is still going strong today.

While some users may see TikTok as a space they can create their own empire, the humble viewer may be more content with simply liking videos created by others, with lip-syncing and dancing at the forefront of content produced on the app.

TikTok users have time and time again proven this is not all the app has to offer.

From comedic videos, often mimicking those of the beloved Vine – a social networking service where users could post six-second content before its demise in 2017 – to videos with a more educational purpose, TikTok has it all.

American Vlogger and Science Communicator, Hank Green, expanded his online community when he created his TikTok account, @hankgreen1. He posts short but insightful videos answering viewers' questions, using the hashtag AskHank.

Though his videos are often well-researched and accurate, he used his platform of 5.5 million followers to debunk a common misconception of educational TikTok videos, that they are all reliable and based on solid facts.

In one video, Hank told viewers that humans have a Lacrimal Sac in which all fallen eyelashes gather over time. This, of course, is not true.

At the end of the video, Hank states that “just because someone in a position of authority is telling you something, does not mean that they are always right".

This disclaimer is a much-needed reality check since everyone with access to the internet is potentially susceptible to so-called fake news.

Whether you use TikTok as a space to create and build your own brand, or like me, simply scroll through and like content created by others, it is clear to see TikTok dominates the online space we all have access to today.

Even my 86-year-old grandma knows of TikTok as a household name!

Although, despite its uses, TikTok's content should really be taken with a pinch of salt. This is something to learn sooner or later, as it seems TikTok is here to stay.

Edited by Jemma Snowdon