TikTok Trends Should have been stopped

In this article, Haddix Blackmon discusses why Tiktok trends have destroyed the creativity of online creators.

TikTok Trends and why we should have stopped after the renegade

By Haddix Blackmon

Most teens are very familiar with the TikTok app. If you aren’t one of these teens, then stop reading this article here and go back to your VHS tapes. The app has given many creators a platform to grow, make fun videos and trigger millions of people with controversial or discriminating content against the other users of TikTok. However, as most of the users of this app don’t actually have an ounce of creativity, there tend to be many copycats making the same POV videos for years on end. Audios being reused millions of times, the same Five Nights at Freddy’s meme posted in a video format over and over again, or the same creator making the same video with a new font every time. These trends have made using the app more irritating than my FYP making me question my sexuality for the third time.

Photo from Pixabay

Listening to the same audio playing on my For You Page, although sometimes funny, gets old very quickly. I do not want to hear “Reese's Puffs” ever again after having used this app. Creators often will use the same audio over and over again to squeeze as many views out of one trend before moving along to the next. It’s like watching your friend going back to an old fling for the eighth time in a month. It is just sad to see. MOVE ON! Get a life, Bridgette. These users of TikTok will ride the fame of someone else’s voice, just to be noticed in the eyes of the internet. Often, these types of trends will drown the original video out and give rise to others fame more than the one who had an actual original idea. Is this why my parents didn’t want me to get social media?

Many times, a lack of creativity also has to do with the algorithm. The way TikTok’s algorithm works, makes it difficult to make different content once one thing sticks. In an article by LaterBlog it is stated that “The more engagements and views a TikTok video receives, the more likely it will be served to larger audiences.” For those of you who are still stuck in the time of the Nintendo DS, this means the more that people like a video, the more likely it is going to be shown to others. This is definitely a great way to gain viewers. However, it forces people into consistency. When one video works out and is shown to a lot of people, making another video with a different concept that fails can put your account in jeopardy. It's like a river that will either push the creator to a lush fantasy world or a waterfall with pointy rocks and alligators with eight rows of teeth at the bottom. I also imagine a ton of “That Vegan Teacher” followers down there, but that could be a personal fear. A video will get popular for a creator and then they have a difficult time getting other types of content out with the same level of fame. This will often push creators to reuse the same jokes and stories to get more views without having the choice of new, fresh ideas. I don’t know about you, but I can’t handle any more parts of the @LighthouseRaiders “S&D Tier” series. Videos should be coming out like fresh bread, not the off-brand chips that taste like plastic. Although views should not be the biggest reason for making content, often it is something that is sought after.

Photo by Rawpixel: 100% exactly how TikTok's algorithm looks...without a doubt.

Photo by PxHere: Visual of overreacting TikTok influencers.

Reaction videos have become hugely popularized on the app, as well. Of course, these reactions are nothing more than a creator's mouth and eyes opening as wide as they can, while pointing at an unfunny Facebook post above their head. Many times, the video has a way overused song playing behind it that reeks of depressed young adults grasping desperately for attention from strangers. For the love of Peter, please find new songs. We have someone reviewing pretty good ones here on The Scroll that would be good replacements! These videos get thousands of likes, despite the comments ranging from internet trolls making fun of the creator to Facebook moms who use way too many emojis in their paragraph of a response. Either way, reaction videos tend to lack the most creativity and yet still have become popularized. To me, it is just a lazy form of content. I could just go download Reddit and get much better memes than someone talking about their loud kids with an addiction to Fortnite.

Of course, TikTok also has plenty of good content. Many people are creative on the app and make lots of great content! Some of my personal favorites are storytimes, cosplayers, and fanart accounts. Even though some of those fanart pages make some questionable art that really should NOT exist, that’s still an impressive form of creativity. I don’t know why they drew Luigi in that bikini, but you slay, Queen! New content and ideas are always something to strive for, rather than just fame. Riding the popularity can often take the heart out of someone's content and end up milking a creative idea dry of views, kind of like the Fast and Furious movie series. If I could get rid of these ridiculous trends, I would, but because I can’t, I will continue mindlessly scrolling through the app until the next trend comes around so I can complain again.

Signing off,

Haddix Blackmon

Sources:

https://later.com/blog/tiktok-algorithm/

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