TikTok: Why We so Obsessed With You?
December 27, 2019
With over 500 million users, TikTok has become one of the most popular social media apps. People from around the world, eyes glued to their phones, scroll endlessly through the 60 second video clips.
Previously, the app was known as Musical.ly. According to Vox, “Musical.ly was acquired for around $1 billion in November 2017 by the Beijing-based tech company ByteDance, which already owned the popular TikTok, a Muscial.ly equivalent.” Musical.ly already totaled 90 million users and fortunately, no one lost their account and they were all switched to Tik Tok accounts once the app was bought.
Since being bought, TikTok has become the most amusing, entertaining and popular social media platform today.
Some people may say that TikTok is boring and annoying. They do not understand the light-hearted humor that the app brings. The app is also rumored to be unsafe. According to ABC News, “Two lawmakers representing both sides of the aisle called on the Director of National Intelligence to conduct an assessment of the “national security risks” posed by the wildly-popular, Chinese-owned app TikTok.” The app is being reviewed by government officials to ensure that user data is being kept safe and private for users.
The government takes into account the safety of apps for those using it in America. They have reached out to the company and continue to assess the app’s safety, so you do not have to worry about it being a risk. TikTok continues to welcome everyone’s day with laughter as soon as you open the app.
TikTok caters to teens. Their terms of service say that the app is suitable for users aged 13 and over, but mostly targets those 18 and over. Since this app is popular among teens, it provides a great outlet for stress, creativity, and a place to have fun with friends. “I think it’s really entertaining and I like to use it to relax in my downtime,” teen Savannah Rosenberg said. With the videos being endless, users can always find something to watch.
Clearly, TikTok is a prevalent app in today’s world, that almost every teen is using. TikTok helps keep people’s busy lives stress free and fun since the app is accessible to all devices. The trends are never-ending, so you are sure to find something that piques your interest.
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Isabel Yoblonski • Mar 14, 2021 at 9:29 PM
Tik Tok is a great app full of opportunities for kids. As with everything, there are ups and downs and this could be a reason for our past president to have a concern. However, I think this applies to all social media platforms not just Tik Tok.
Lexi Valeri • Oct 27, 2020 at 2:04 PM
This article very clearly explains why Tik Tok is so captivating to teens. One thing that I wonder is what exactly the safety risks were with this app.
Kendall Retzki • Oct 26, 2020 at 12:37 PM
It was recently in News that the government thought Tik Tok to be unsafe to personal information. President Donald Trump said he was going to ban it, but nothing ever came of that. I wonder why the safety of Tik Tok is so concerning, but other social media does not get the same attention.
Allison Rieckmann • Mar 30, 2020 at 10:20 PM
I found this article interesting as I had previously heard about concerns over privacy relating to the app, but had forgot about them and if they had ever resolved, so looking back at this article was informative and relevant to both myself and most students today who use the app. It’s good to be informed of the risks of using social media apps like this, so publishing an article like this helps others to think more critically about how they use the app.
Ella Eastman-Kiesow • Mar 30, 2020 at 5:01 PM
I love tik tok, but I had no idea the government was concerned about safety on the app, although safety on social media in general has become a big issue. I do think the app gives people plenty of creative freedom, which is much needed right now.
Meg Moore-Nokes • Mar 30, 2020 at 10:59 AM
I forgot TikTok was originally Musical.ly! I also didn’t know about the safety concerns and I wonder how the government would handle a situation where the app is deemed unsafe. As of now, the app is incredibly popular and I only see the app growing, especially while people are staying home practicing social distancing throughout the Covid-19 outbreak.
Delaney Schilt • Mar 30, 2020 at 9:54 AM
Truthfully, I used to be skeptical about TikTok and got very annoyed whenever my siblings would quote their favorite videos, but eventually I caved and bought the app. Now I’m addicted. I love to watch the dance videos and I do them all the time.
Rosie Keating • Mar 30, 2020 at 8:27 AM
This article is really interesting because I didn’t know that TikTok was originally Musical.ly or that the government was concerned about the safety of the app. Hopefully they solved any safety issues because millions of people continue to use the app.
Wyatt Leeser • Mar 30, 2020 at 8:00 AM
I never understood the appeal to Tik Tok. Now I at least understand why people watch it. Most of the videos seem way to cringy to be funny. It is crazy to see how famous people get on there.