The TikTok boom of 2020 and its impact two years into COVID-19

Graphic by — Rachel Fratt

Ever since COVID-19 has taken over our world, the TikTok app has slowly risen to the top. The reason for this rise in popularity can be attributed to bored students left with an endless amount of time on their hands. 

In a small survey containing 10 Elmhurst University students, six of the 10 students reported first downloading the app due to quarantine and having nothing else to do.

A quick download of the app left students obsessed, with some spending most of their free time on the app.

Half of the students in the survey reported using the app every day, but even then, all over campus students huddle together in groups, scrolling through their For You Page (FYP), laughing amongst their friends about the latest TikTok trend. 

While TikTok is a nice way to relax, students have raised concerns about how distracting the app can be from their everyday life and the stress it may cause.

“It’s easy to relax by watching TikToks,” said EU senior Jessie Goodreid. “I usually try to not use TikTok during weekdays because it can be distracting, and I have frequently had periods of time where I stop using the app altogether for various reasons.”

EU senior Sarina Okrzesik stated, “I was an avid TikTok user in the past, but not anymore. I stopped using it because it stressed me out so much.”

Even though TikTok may have some downsides, students have a lot of love for this app and expressed appreciation for this app getting them through quarantine. 

There are numerous reasons why the app is so popular amongst students and many praise TikTok for having short videos that grab attention instantly.

“The shortness of the videos while still being informative (sometimes) grabs attention,” said EU junior Bailey Hoenig. 

Other students agreed the shortness of the videos is what grabs their attention, but some students mentioned their main reason for enjoying the app is the community that has been created through it.

EU senior Marieli Urquizai enjoys TikTok for this reason, stating “I’m a content creator so I have the joy of getting to be much more involved with the act of creating videos and interacting with my followers.”

However, the main appeal to everyone is the FYP, which generates content for each user, specifically tailored to their likes and follows. Not one FYP is the same as the next, obscuring the definition of a “popular” TikTok.

“I am fascinated by the capacity for knowledge and creativity humans have,” stated Goodreid. “I also like to watch animal videos on TikTok.”

“For the most part it is a fun way to interact with content I am interested in,” said Urquizai.

Most students agree their FYP is a great reflection of what they are most interested in using TikTok for, and there are some features on the app which can help users tailor the content they are shown.

“I find that it better reflects me the more often I tap ‘I am not interested in this video’ if it is something I’m not interested in, rather than just scrolling away,” said Goodreid.

Another driving feature of this app is that most celebrities do poorly on this platform. 

Most of the famous creators on the app are average people who happened to gain a large following by posting TikToks, and their popularity is thanks to the algorithm, not status.

“You need a personality on TikTok,” said EU senior Janet Perezchica. “That’s why celebrities don’t really do well on there because they treat it like it’s Instagram.”