TikTok for Boomers: Why are Zoomers crazy about it?
If to you, TikTok is that app “with cringy teenagers singing along to a song while dancing weirdly”, you’re most likely what the internet nowadays calls “a boomer”: defined as being out of touch or old fashioned, regardless of the generation you were born in.
So, what is that special about TikTok and why is Gen Z (Zoomers) crazy about it? As a millennial who is about to turn 30 myself, I’ve shrugged off the app becoming a sensation for a while too. At first, it was musical.ly, then it became something else. You always kept hearing about it being “the new Vine”. And even though I signed in multiple times, I failed to see the attraction and gave up rather quickly. Until one day, when I decided to really dig in and see what the hype was all about. Now it’s one of those apps I use daily and I’m almost obsessed with it. I — nicely — forced almost all of my close circle (and followers on social media) to sign up and send me their favorite TikToks too.
If you don’t want to be labeled as a boomer anymore, hear me out:
1. It’s not what you think it is
I think there was a time period when TikTok, reminiscent of musical.ly, was indeed just teens lipsyncing/dancing to certain songs. Nowadays, it’s seriously trend-defining, educational, viral, creative, and inspiring. I’ve seen anything from cute animal videos to educational accounts about space, psychology, economics, to crazily talented people making art, comedy, commentary, and some of the best memes on the internet.
2. It defines all of the internet content
If you hang out on Twitter, Youtube, Instagram, or anywhere else on the internet long enough, you’ll know what I mean. Some of the most interesting videos you’ve seen lately are probably all TikToks (even though you may not know it). Because of the ease of exporting and sharing these videos, they are everywhere. Musical artists like Doja Cat and Benee literally exist because their music went viral just by being played on TikTok. Challenges on TikTok take the internet by storm every time they happen, and almost every week, one single video will go viral and even make it into the news. There’s a category on Youtube called “watching my favorite TikToks” now, where YouTubers will watch and react to TikToks. The list goes on and on…
3. The Algorithm *chef’s kiss*
The algorithm of TikTok learns very quickly what you like and what you don’t and it will serve you the best video dish your brain can enjoy in no time. The infamous “For You” page, aka your timeline, is made up of videos that the algorithm thinks you’ll like the most. These will be influenced by the very first TikTok you liked, your location, your device settings, and things like the information on the video itself. TikTok released a statement breaking down the algorithm for its users. It sounds complicated, but basically: you like what you like, you make sure to tell the app you dislike something you saw, and the rest works its magic. The ease with which the app customizes your timeline is definitely one of the reasons why people get hooked so easily.
So get on the app before it’s too late, and don’t let anyone call you a boomer anymore. If you’re unsure of what to watch, my “likes” are public on this page and you can start there. Don’t forget to send me your fave TikToks too!
