I first heard about TikTok about a year ago, when a business newsletter I get predicted it would be the next big thing. I remember asking on Stories if you’d ever heard of it and the majority said no. The others said yes but that it was only for high schoolers, and we millennials were way too old for it. I gave it a quick look, couldn’t figure it out, decided I didn’t need it, and went on my merry way.
A few months ago, I noticed the PR companies looking for influencers weren’t asking about Instagram engagement anymore - they wanted to know how many TikTok followers we had. I remember thinking, ‘Ok. The influencing world is really shifting.’
I joined TikTok as @yogabycandace. I couldn’t figure out how to use it, and just left it. Every so often, when I was bored, I’d log on, try to make a video, get frustrated, and leave. I made two videos - neither of which were very good, and didn’t think about it until about a week ago.
A week ago, my friend called me. We were catching up on our week, and ever since quarantine has started, we’ve been really keeping close tabs on one another to make sure the other is doing ok during this trying time. With the uncertainty of COVID-19, we’ve both experienced ups and downs, moments of fear and anxiety and stress (here’s a podcast where I talked more about this), and moments of calm as well. On the phone she said, “It comes in waves for me. The other day, I was feeling pretty low, and I just poured myself a glass of wine and opened up TikTok and literally laughed for an hour straight. The stuff on there is so funny and uplifting, and as silly as it sounds, I was so thankful for it. You’ve gotta get on there.” My friend is 49, but she has teenage sons who introduced her to TikTok.
Her phone call caught me on a day when I was feeling pretty down. It comes in waves for me, too. (Side note: I check in weekly on Instagram Stories asking about your mental health and so many of you say it comes and waves for you as well.) There is so much fear and anxiety and stress sometimes. Around all of it. What happens when this is over? Will the economy bounce back? Will I still be able to make a living? How will I continue to pay rent at my studio space? Will people continue to book Live classes or online classes as we continue quarantine? It’s a lot to think about - and sometimes hard to control. So when a friend gives you a sure-fire way to laugh? To ease the tension? To escape for a moment?
I’ll take it.
So I got online. And I started to scroll. And boy did I laugh.
I laughed at Dog Diaries. At dancing dogs. At dancing babies. At stupid skits. At people making parody songs about quarantine.
I was entertained. Entertained by dances. Interesting storylines. The animals at the zoo.
I was in awe. In awe of the incredible travels I saw. Of time lapse sunrises. Of tutorials for making a painting. Of beautiful apartments in cities I only dreamed of visiting.
Before I knew it, an hour had passed. I only cried once. At a TikTok about a guy who rescued a dog. The dog had been so anxious at first. The TikTok video documented over 10 months of the two getting to know one another and by the end they were inseparable. Happy tears.
So I joined TikTok as a way to escape from the unknown that is sort of dominating our lives right now. To escap from the heaviness of the pull I feel on Instagram. As silly as it sounds, it’s brought so much joy to my days. When I teach our Business and Marketing module, I always tell my students that social media content should be one of three things: educational, personal, or entertaining. And TikTok hits all of those things, but it particularly has a lot of entertaining content.
When I sat down to think about why I like TikTok so much, I asked myself, ‘Doesn’t Instagram do that?’
No, it doesn’t. My instagram these days has a lot of politics, a lot of news, a lot of heaviness. Or, it’s the opposite end of the spectrum - a lot of curated, seemingly unattainable content. Instagram does educate, and can be a resource. But lately, at least for me, Instagram hasn’t been bringing me the joy it once did.
So my recommendation, if you need something uplifting, is to check out TikTok. You won’t regret it. Simply download - you don’t even have to create an account to view videos. (And if you do create an account, follow me over at @yogabycandace).