The Development and Growth of TikTok Creators

Abstract

Social media has become a pivotal resource for individuals to both express themselves, entertain others and stay up to date with the world around them. With the rise of short-video films, TikTok became an application heavily relied on by the younger generation; particularly throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus of this study was to identify what affordances the application creators would use to develop their videos and grow their online presence. In order to do this, 10 creators were randomly selected and observed over the course of a month, with a total of 80 videos being collected by the researcher. With the data collected, the study discussed not only the habits of a creator but the ways in which they connect with their audience members. Additionally, it explains how the two creator groups, both male and female, use the application in corresponding yet, differing ways to their advantage. The results from this work allow future researchers to gain a better understanding of TikTok’s premises and creative sensibilities for those wishing to create can do so in a way that represents them in an authentic way.