The Innovation of TikTok

TIK TOK HITS THE APP STORE

Tik-Tok is an app that got introduced, and downloaded all over the world in the year 2017. People use this app because it is a way to show your individuality and creativeness by lip-syncing, dancing, sharing jokes or even things like tutorials. This app went viral pretty quick  because it was a great outlet for people to express themselves that would be shared with their friends, or with millions of other strangers if you got the chance to go viral.

Looking at Tik-Tok through the lens of the Diffusion of Innovations theory, it explains why it could have been spread through social systems. Everrett Rogers proposes that four main elements influence the spread of a new idea: the innovation itself (TikTok app), communication channels (social media outlets and influencers), time (Gen-Z's love TikTok as well as older people), and a social system. The Early adopters would be the first people who downloaded the app and played around with it. After videos were created and people began to like the idea, more downloaded it and that would make them the Early/ late majority. The Market share would go up as more people download it... people become 'TikTok famous" which leads them to become "influencers", and even celebrities are making videos on this app. Because of how fast it is growing, it's place in the market is growing widely too. TikTok is also the most downloaded app on the entire App Store.

As a TikTok user myself, it is a good way to have fun by getting to know people, learning new dances and catching up with the latest trends. And that is exactly why the app caught on and spread. People are sending TikToks back and forth -- even my Mom in the family group chat. It is also an easy way to spread information in 60 seconds and less without the need to type paragraphs. 

People became early adopters because it is so much fun to express yourself and watch other peoples videos to see their thoughts and ideas.

Some downsides with the app is that people can become addicted. The Gen - Z's who are constantly on their phones are raving over TikToks. In California over Spring Break, I went to a store that held a TikTok star, Addison Rae's, clothing collab. I overheard a young girl said that she spend 24hrs a week on TikTok. And yup, TikTok does tell you how many hours you've been on the app for the week and how many videos you watched! That's an entire day. You can only imagine my reaction.

In this article , entitled The Negative Impact of TikTok it lists some potential negative effects of the App. A high school principal in New York tells Smart Social Founder, Josh Ochs, that students are being bullied because of this app. Students are making fun of classmates videos and others are ridiculing their fellow students based on their contents.

A fact that was interesting to me was that 60% of users in the US are between the ages of 16-24 years old. This means the app is attracted many users even ones approaching their 30s.