Why is TikTok is so Addicting?
By: Kate Cohen
Tags: Digital Marketing, Tik Tok, Social Media, Culture, Digital Life

1. Anyone Can Become Famous

For starters, it is mostly just videos of everyday people, doing everyday things but with an added dash of humor — And anyone can become famous, with just one video (Cue Ocean Spray’s spokesperson, Nathan Apodaca).

2. It’s Not Flooded With Celebrity Content

While most celebrities were still selling HelloFresh or promoting their makeup lines on Instagram, few celebrities were capitalizing on TikTok’s origin years.

Well, excluding Jason Derulo, whose average TikTok video rivals the budget of Avatar.

And although A-list celebs are starting to join, they are still not the predominant driving content. Meanwhile, Addison Rae and Charli D’Amelio weren’t always selling out Dunkin Donuts coffee but were just normal teenagers posting goofy dance videos.

3. Fewer Advertisements

Facebook and Instagram have literally become just one huge advertisement — Facebook, which also owns Instagram, has become less interpersonal and is more about promoting its advertisers than connecting you with people.

It feels every other post is now an advertisement — Even posts that don’t initially look like an ad, are probably an ad. Facebook advertising policies strictly discourage clickbaity ads and purposely encourage ads to naturally blend into your feed and not look like ads.

And don’t even get me started on all the engagement posts, which just feel like one big advertisement to stock up on wine and buy 100 cats.

4. People are More Relatable

Unlike most social media apps, TikTok is the one app where people are encouraged to put their worst foot forward. No idealized selves. No Photoshopped, perfect lives. In fact, people go out of their way to show just how miserable their lives are.

5. Positive Comments Are the Norm

Although no social media platform is ever free of trolls, most people pass the positive vibe check, and it is almost a competition to see who can post the nicest comments.

With people posting such personal content, it would feel pretty unrewarding to read through a bunch of hateful comments. However, most people make an effort to encourage others. And when a troll does come along, usually someone will post, “the comments really didn’t pass the vibe check.”

6. Get to See How the Other Half Lives

Even before COVID-19, stepping inside someone else’s shoes and taking a new perspective was not always easy. Especially, when you surround yourself with the same types of people each day.

But on TikTik, you meet people you might not otherwise meet. You get to see how rich life is. While also watching people make Michelin star food in the middle of the woods (Does anyone else remember what happened to that poor chicken?).

7. Source of Creativity

Although I probably have seen way more renditions of the WAP dance than I care to admit, you can’t deny the app shines a light on people’s creativity.

There are endless videos of people sharing new dances, makeup tutorials, decorating cakes, etc.

You name it, there’s probably a video.

8. Taught Me More Than School

Okay, slight exaggeration, but honestly I have learned so many random things. For instance, did you know that if you pull a Post-It note from the top, it won’t stick completely flat? However, if you pull the Post-It note from the side, it will lay perfectly flat?

9. Content is Endless

If you have ever used TikTok you know that there is an endless stream of content. One minute you are just innocently watching a few videos and the next thing you know it’s 3 am.

And despite TikTok’s best efforts to make you take a break by telling you have been scrolling too long — You quickly scroll through this vexatious reminder and continue scrolling for another hour.

10. The Algorithm

This is by far one of the main reason’s TikTok is so addictive. Like most apps, TikTok learns what you like and then tailors your feed based on how you like and comment. But what makes TikTok so unique is its ability to make your FYP really feel like it was made just for you.