Tik Tok is a social media app on which users can create, share, and watch short videos typically less than 60 seconds in length. Upon opening the app, the user is met by the “For You” page, a swipeable stream of videos that uses an algorithm to suggest new content to the user based on what they have already liked. Next to that is a “Following” page, composed of videos made by the creators that the user is following, as well as a “Discover” page, on which users can look up specific accounts, hashtags, or just scroll through what is trending.

 

Like other social media apps such as Youtube or Instagram, Tik Tok gives users the ability to “like” videos, leave comments, and “like” comments. It is also similar to Instagram in that every user has their own personal profile page, where their profile picture, bio, and videos are available to view. 

 

While it shares multiple qualities with other social media platforms, Tik Tok is unique in that it relies on rapid-fire video suggestions. It allows for a high degree of customization of videos by providing content creators with creative tools such as filters, special effects, video templates, and the option of inserting music clips. While the official Tik Tok website is ambiguous about their purpose, stating that their mission is to “inspire creativity and bring joy,” it is apparent that Tik Tok functions well as a means of entertainment as well as providing valuable educational content. 

 

In any case, Tik Tok has proved to be widely successful in recent years. The app was released in 2016 and now has roughly 800 million users worldwide (Mohsin, 2020). At the time this paper is written, it is the number 1 most downloaded app on the app store. 

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Thesis

Our observations on Tik Tok and familiarity with the app (several of us were Tik Tokers users prior to this paper) lead to the discovery that many videos were not made solely with the intention to entertain, but with the intention to educate. We found that it is not uncommon to stumble across a video in which the content creators are teaching a skill or educating viewers on a particular topic. In fact, navigating to the content creator’s profile reveals that many have curated a profile based around the subject they are teaching. 

 

It became our goal to understand how and why educational content functions on Tik Tok, as well as to develop a better understanding of the people who brought it upon themselves to act as educators on an unconventional platform. 

 

Through interviews with several content creators, as well as observations with the app, we discovered that Tik Tok indeed functions as a platform for the spread of information and education. Furthermore, we found that Tik Tok facilitates, and even promotes, the spread of educational content due to its unique format and design. Lastly, we found that Tik Tok is an appealing platform for educators as it provides an easy to use format for new creators to curate and market their material as educational.