Quick moments of joy cross the screen as people endlessly scroll through TikTok videos of others dancing, singing and sharing their talents.
The TikTok app, formerly known as Musical.ly, has entertained students during quarantine, they said, and has allowed them to de-stress from exams and schoolwork. They said its creates a space for students to be creative and share what they love doing.
Ralph Mallapre, a sophomore from the Philippines majoring in vocal performance, said, “It’s addictive. The videos are so cool that you can watch over and over again, and it is still so good. It’s just a small video clip, but it is satisfying. That’s why people want to download the app.”
Mallapre said he started using TikTok during the quarantine because he was bored. He explained, “I was so stressed with trying to figure out if I was staying [in Hawaii], or if I had a job. I love to dance, and dancing helped me get rid of my stress. I used TikTok to get away from problems for the moment and take a break from all the headaches.”
Content on TikTok
Damon Kumar, an alumnus from Fiji who graduated in Winter 2020 and who studied hospitality and tourism management and business management, said the app is for entertainment. He described how he likes to make dancing videos with his friends even when they pass on the opportunity.
Kumar said he enjoys sharing the videos with his friends and family. He also enjoys watching cooking and exercise videos. He said he uses it for educational purposes and also to uplift and make others laugh.
Sela Tuihalamaka, a junior from Tonga studying social work, said she started making TikTok videos because she found it was a new trend last year and was interested in trying it. She said, “One of my biggest hobbies is dancing. I wanted to show my dancing skills.
“Sometimes I am nervous to [share] my videos because of what people may say, but I don’t mind it. I feel comfortable because what I dance, do and say is appropriate and shows who I really am.”
She said she wants to inspire other people to dance and share their talents no matter what others think, and TikTok is a good resource for doing so.
Opportunities for fame
Gerome Romero, known as ldsgeromero on TikTok, is a freshman from the Philippines studying biochemistry. He said he made an original TikTok video that went viral overnight. The video has more than 1.7 million views, and Romero now has more than 5,000 followers. Romero had only started using TikTok when the quarantine started.
On his viral video, there was one comment that stuck out to him that read, “I needed a good laugh, and you gave it to me.”
Romero said he thanked the commenter. Afterwards, “The woman who commented started conversing with me and told me she had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and was tested a week before the video. I was able to make her smile while she was in isolation away from her family and feeling lonely. We had this conversation, and I felt happy to help her during these times.”
He said the whole world is on TikTok, “So be careful and aware of what you click and what you post, and you will be good.”
Making money on TikTok
According to Elise Darma, an entrepreneur from YouTube, there are ways to make money on TikTok. She said people are growing their followers and then selling their accounts.
Another way is by going live and collecting donations from TikTok users after 1,000 followers. Darma said, “You can purchase coins on the app, [and] 100 coins are about $1.39. You give it to users as a thank you for the content they provide. The creator can turn those coins into diamonds, which then can convert into cash via PayPal.”
Romero said, “TikTok is a place where you can go to show your talents and show a little bit of you there.”
To learn more or create a TikTok account, visit https://www.TikTok.com/en/ or download TikTok on the App Store.
Update: According to the Washington Post, on Aug. 6, 2020, President Donald Trump made an executive order to ban TikTok in the United States, saying the company, based in Beijing, is a national security threat for storing information on U.S. citizens. Unless the situation changes, the ban will go into effect on the week beginning Sept. 20.