By Sydney Fetters
Staff Writer
You’ve probably seen it; if you haven’t, where have you been?
Messy bun in place and scrunchy fastened around the wrist, a girl dances while lip-syncing to the song “Obsessed” by Mariah Carey.
This “TikTok” has gone viral gaining more than a million views..
TikTok, which is an app for creating and sharing short lip-sync, comedy and talent videos is also viral.
Since its birth on the app store in 2014 (originally Music.ly then rebranded “TikTok” in 2018), TikTok has done nothing but increase in popularity. The app now has more than 300 million users monthly with new users joining daily.
The platform, which contains hours worth of videos to scroll through, has users often choosing itself over other social media platforms, such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. The popularity of the app means a larger population of “TikTokers” are being added into the race to become “TikTok famous” or have their videos go viral.
TikTok user junior Sydney Wilson said she has found much entertainment as well as “fame” when using the app.
“I started making TikToks as a total joke since people made fun of them,’’ said Wilson, who has more than 10,000 followers.. “Then, people just starting blowing up off of content made, so it became a challenge between pretty much everyone on the app to blow up as well.”
While 10,000 followers is a lo, the top TikTokers (as of November), Loren Gray had 34.8 million followers.
Sophomore Mariah Bathrick said she enjoys practicing dances and making videos with her boyfriend as funny memories.
“I love making TikToks because I feel like I can be myself,” Bathrick said. “My boyfriend and I have fun making videos and laughing together when we mess up.”
Like any other social media platform, TikTok can be described as addictive. Wilson, Bathrick, and other TikTok users frequently use the app and spend several hours a week on TikTok.
The app could be addicting from a design standpoint. When TikTok is opened, all notification sounds are muted and the time and battery life displays are hidden from view. This makes it easier for users to engage in hyperfocus, where they lose track of time and spend more minutes or even hours on the app.
“Although it is extremely addicting, I think it’s just fun to do and something great to entertain people,’’ Wilson said.
The most downloaded social media app for 2019 is gaining popularity still especially among younger people, and serves as a device for self-expression while having fun.