TikTok 12+

Overall, I enjoy this app. I’ve been on here since the fall of 2018, I’m a loyal user. However, recently this app was not working properly for me because I was unable to see the instagram icon on other accounts that I follow and have known in the past that the instagram icon was on their profile. And even after updating this app to the most current version, this problem was still not resolved. I went to the settings in the app and looked up in their report a problem section to see if there was anything I could do about this glitch, and it told me I had to uninstall and reinstall the app to fix any possible issues, so I did. But what it didn’t tell me is that I would lose my drafts I created. So, I basically lost all my videos I was making progress on and editing because of an issue I did not cause myself. Totally unfair! I created those drafts for a reason and logging out or reinstalling the app shouldn’t just get rid of the videos I created and saved to my drafts on my account! Nobody should have to lose what may be minutes or hours spent on creating content for their followers all because they temporarily logged out, ridiculous. At least I’m able to see the instagram icon now, but at what cost...Tiktok, fix this.

For all of the hype that surrounds TikTok, it is an incredibly interesting app that plays a major role in the life of most adolescents today. It can create unique spaces of community on the app, and provide content for people to talk about, share, and bond over outside the app itself. However, from my own experience, I would rate the app a 3 out of 5. The fact that the For You page provides a constant stream of new content is a brilliant design choice to get people to spend longer on the app, it can often feel like the user does not have agency over what they are seeing. Additionally, fears about being on a different ‘side’ of TikTok than peers could be a source of stress or concern for some adolescents, adding to potential mental health effects social media can have. Most of the design of the app is intuitive once the user has been on it for a little bit, and while the privacy settings are not front-and-center, they are available so that adolescents can have the content that they view tailored somewhat to not include inappropriate content and to promote healthy app usage, but allowing a parent to have potential control over being able to extend time using the app must feel like an invasion of their privacy. However, without an external source of monitoring, it can be very easy for adolescents, as well as adults, to become compulsive TikTok users who only find sporadic joy from the content they watch.

4/5
My tiktok experience has been the best! I’ve gotten no hate but it is still possible! So be aware, however it is a really fun app to make videos, react to videos, and find your favorite creators to follow! There are live streams that you get alerted when someone your following goes online. There is also a following page where you can scroll through videos of only the people you follow! There is also a for you page that allows you to fine new creators and great content! Time passes by QUICK with this app so be careful! Remember to stay healthy while on this app! You can also search for certain accounts to follow, certain hashtags, videos, users, sounds, and other things in the search bar! It is a super great and fun app that can also be educational, I seriously recommend getting it! 4/5 star rating!

I have one recommendation for an update! Maybe adding a certain option to only update videos to a certain gender of viewers could be helpful! Like for example, videos about women puberty tips could be a helpful reason to make it only for women. Adding a video about this on a man/boy’s for you page is not exactly appealing to them. This can also be vice versa. Just a small recommendation for the viewers possible safety and entertainment!