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What is TikTok and how does it work?
TikTok is an online social media platform that allows users to create video content. These videos can be shared just with friends, or with the wider online community. They often follow musical and cultural trends. Videos range from vlogs and recipes to gaming, reading and beyond.
The app has been downloaded more than two billion times – which means there’s a lot of content out there. Because of the huge number of videos, the content that users find on their feed – or For You Page (FYP) – is randomised and shown to them based on their app preferences and behaviours.
Videos show up to friends and followers on their personal feeds, and are also discoverable by other users on their FYPs if the creator’s account is public.
With this in mind, TikTok can feel quite vast. This can make parental controls and managing your child’s social media intake feel a little daunting.
Main functions and features of TikTok
The main features of TikTok include:
- Watching and sharing videos. TikTok reaches billions of viewers all over the world. The most-watched video in 2023 gained over 2.3 billion views.
- Creating and editing videos. People can record and edit content on their own devices or on the app itself.
- Going live. Similar to sites like Instagram and Facebook, TikTok allows users over the age of 18 to start a live broadcast.
- Direct messaging. TikTok users can message each other through a private chat function. This function is mainly used to share videos.
Types of content on TikTok
You can find videos on almost anything on TikTok. But some of the most popular types of content include:
- Lip-syncing. Some would argue this was the ‘original’ type of TikTok content. The app itself evolved from Musically in 2018, which was originally a site dedicated to lip-syncing content.
- Dance videos. A natural next step for a music-driven site. Dance trends often emerge from this type of content.
- Music. Many popular musicians today rise from the TikTok ranks to find their way in the industry.
- Tutorials. These range from make-up tips to cooking shows.
- Educational content. You can find an answer to pretty much everything on TikTok. However, it’s recommended to always check official sources to back things up.
- Art. Whether people share their paintings, poetry or latest home design projects, TikTok can find the right audience.
TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop is a marketplace that allows people and companies to sell goods through the site. It’s a potential way for small businesses to advertise their products to the TikTok community. Users can connect their account details to TikTok Shop and purchase items directly through the app.
Besides the basic shop search function, users can sell goods on TikTok by:
- Creating videos to advertise their shops, and connecting specific products as clickable tags or links in their bio.
- Starting live videos. These often show people selling products in real-time and interacting with customers through live chat. Some also show the creation process and allow for custom orders.
- Adding products to the Showcase tab. Creators can highlight and advertise select products as showcases on their profiles.
Is TikTok safe for children?
No social media site may be 100% safe for children. But, used correctly, TikTok could prove safe, fun and educational for children with the right supervisions and restrictions in place.
TikTok content is vast and varied, and some things might slip through the cracks. ‘Harmful’ videos are often rapidly reported and taken down, but it’s still best to tread with caution and use parental controls.
Every social media feed is unique to the user, and algorithms can serve up content in patterns that might surprise parents.
So, it may be wise, if you let your child use TikTok, to always keep an eye on what they’re seeing.