Millions and millions of content creators worldwide have found stardom thanks to TikTok. Consumers can use this app to create short, engaging contents that gain fame and following.
This social network has surpassed behemoths such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook in-app downloads on the Apple App Store.
Chinese company ByteDance owns TikTok, which has 1.39 billion users, of which 1 billion are active monthly users as of August 2022.
This is rated an excellent social media app that integrates Image Capture and Artificial Intelligence. Not to forget that its community and architecture capitalize on short-duration creative content.
Of course, the app is not without scandal or doubts about its potency. Here’s a rundown of TikTok’s current pros and cons as a social networking site.
Table of Contents
Pros of TikTok
You can spend all day swiping TikTok videos because it is a powerhouse for active users, composers, creators, and performers. Here are some of the most impressive pros of the TikTok app worth noting.
1. Attractive And Easy Interface
The first upside of TikTok is that its aesthetic is appealing and distinct from other applications. Its simple and easy-to-use interface makes it imploring to its users. And TikTok’s benefits do not end there.
This application also allows creative users to become content creators who can make the most of its features.
This can make TikTok a more comfortable and enjoyable application for user-generated content creators.
2. Free Video Application
TikTok, like other social media platforms, does not impose a cost to sign up or add content, and with over 3 billion downloads, TikTok outperforms Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
After creating your account, you can begin uploading videos and sharing your content with the viewer. There is no need to purchase additional apps or facilities because it can efficiently run on your smartphone.
A platform with one of the market’s largest social media audiences has a good chance of content being seen by billions of people without spending a single penny on ads.
3. Networking
The TikTok app enables users to build a network by leaving comments on shared videos.
This is wonderful if you want to interact with other users, make some friends, or work together on projects because hashtags make it simple to discuss video content and find like-minded TikTokers.
This expands not only your fan base but also your income (and we will come to that fact later!).
Some viral campaigns related to social work and environmental protection have been successful due to millions of users supporting the content creation of social media influencers.
4. Video Quality
Everyone desires a clear and appealing application display. As a result, TikTok provides various features, one of which is a concise and authentic video presentation.
And this application’s primary purpose is to create unique and high-quality videos (and thus prominence!).
Many people use this feature to make TikTok app users feel more at ease. TikTok also has settings for smartphones that want the same quality as their users.
5. Instant Publicity
Who doesn’t want to be well-known? TikTok is a fantastic platform for people who want to become legendary among their peers but lack specialized abilities or talents.
The attractive app for advertising strategy enables any ordinary person to create fascinating music videos and gain instant social media exposure.
You don’t need any customized equipment to make great authentic content. This application takes care of everything for you (including a makeover, if you want one!).
TikTok offers the most straightforward option to see a viral post on any social platform. Put in the effort to create something unique that intercepts your target audience’s attention and keeps them watching.
Your native videos can easily reach 1000K+ views even if you only have a few thousand followers.
If a video is presumed to be popular with the audience it is being shown to, TikTok may keep promoting it, and the wider audience helps it go viral.
6. Monetization
TikTok can also be used as a marketing channel and advertising platform by including your affiliate link on your profile page.
Any potential customers who tap on the link and purchase something will earn a commission.
Even a child from my neighborhood is now an authenticated Content Creator and promotes his fashion wear on TikTok. What a great way to earn!
TikTok advertising can minimize the daily budget for advertising campaigns. Short-form videos act as advertising tactics for various audience bases.
Cons of TikTok
While there are countless benefits to using this app, it also has some drawbacks. As a result, this is not for everyone and should be used with caution. If you are thinking about getting started, consider the cons of the TikTok app.
1. Censored Content
Parents are concerned about the inappropriate content that floods their child’s accounts affecting their mental health.
Almost all of them are astonished to see their little girls in inappropriate sexual propositions and postures that are inappropriate for their age.
Because the age limit for using the TikTok app is not well-regulated (and low), most children lie about their age. Approximately 39.8% of TikTok’s global audience is between 18 and 24.
Parents disapprove of their young daughters singing along to sexually explicit lyrical content. And worst of all, the engagement rates on such mature content are mostly high, with explicit messages and predatory behaviors.
Furthermore, the app’s growing popularity among young girls introduces them to distressing comments and potential exploitations while also serving as a hunting ground for sexual predators.
Girls who use this app have also been asked for their contact information or to post provocative pictures of themselves. The consequences are dire whether teens use this app for a legitimate career or enjoyment.
2. Addictive Tendencies
Anyone who has used TikTok knows how habit-forming it can be, with one minute quickly becoming one hour.
In addition, someone who goes down the rabbit hole may take a long time to get back! Let’s examine the science behind why TikTok can be addictive.
Our brain is always looking for new ways to get dopamine, the brain’s reward system. Dopamine encourages us to take action toward pleasant feelings and allows most people to keep scrolling through TikTok like hamsters on a wheel.
That is why TikTok is often referred to as a lottery system. The user has no idea what video they will receive next, but they are eager to see what they will receive.
3. Waste of Time
90% of TikTok users use the application multiple times per day. What’s worse than scrolling through endless videos and wasting time?
For most of us, immediate fun and enjoyment are what TikTok offers. Let’s not forget that a 15-second video isn’t going to teach you anything. There is very little chance of discovering educational content on the TikTok app.
It could waste time and effort if you don’t become a star. Because so many different talents are available, the chances of becoming one are slim. People may waste their time making videos that will never be seen.
4. Clickbait Methods
A freeware program has no limitations on advertising. This application’s free version is riddled with intrusive ads occasionally entice users to pay. Many sites seek a way to monetize by any means necessary.
Users are more likely to pay via a popular platform if its branding and reputation are misled. Only a few people know what is written in their privacy policy and terms and conditions when installing the app.
Each app you download and install includes third-party advertisements and promotional content that has nothing to do with the app.
5. Application Size
The TikTok application is still too large, which is the next weak spot. The issue of the application’s size is a relatively simple one.
However, for those with insufficient smartphones, this is a critical issue and a source of concern for TikTok.
Because viewers of applications with inadequate RAM and storage are unsure whether or not to install them, TikTok’s disadvantage is that it is optional.
Why is that? Because for others, the size of the TikTok application isn’t an issue as long as their smartphone has enough space and is functional in all ways.
6. Security Issues
At last, let’s talk about the burning issue the press constantly mentions: TikTok could pose a national security threat.
The military has prohibited using TikTok on phones, and several government officials have called for the app to be banned entirely in the United States.
What’s the big deal? Some US officials are concerned about the amount of data mining on TikTok and that this data could be sent back to the Chinese government, conceivably jeopardizing US national security.
Summary (pros and cons of TikTok)
| Pros |
|---|
| Attractive And Easy Interface |
| Free Video Application |
| Networking |
| Video Quality |
| Instant Publicity |
| Monetization |
| Cons |
|---|
| Censored Content |
| Addictive Tendencies |
| Waste Of Time |
| Clickbait Methods |
| Application Size |
| Security Issues |
To summarize, the pros and cons of the TikTok video app are numerous; it is an enjoyable way to connect with friends who share similar interests.
On the other hand, people can be overly sensitive to other people’s posts, culminating in bullying remarks from those who oppose them.
So, what is your take on the pros and cons of TikTok?
(Last Updated on October 19, 2022)
