TIKTOK IS COMING TO LIFE — LITERALLY.

Andrea Apit & James Danio

December 17, 2023

It is impossible to escape the plague of TikTok nowadays.

In September 2016, TikTok, known as Douyin in China, was introduced in its native market. It gained popularity in China very quickly, and the following year, owner company ByteDance released an international version.

TikTok was a popular social media platform known for short-form videos. With its user-friendly interface and algorithm that tailors content to individual preferences, TikTok quickly gained popularity among users of all ages, and it became one of the most downloaded apps worldwide.

After two years of being enclosed in quarantine, the world has obviously shifted to a wider platform, which is the Internet. The pandemic has accelerated the reliance on digital platforms for entertainment, communication, and staying connected with others.

As people attempted ways to pass the time and find a sense of community, TikTok emerged as a go-to platform for many, offering a diverse range of content that catered to various interests and age groups. Whether it's discovering new talents or sharing creative ideas, TikTok has become an integral part of our online lives.

The platform's ability to provide a constant stream of entertaining and engaging content has made it a staple in the digital entertainment landscape, attracting both creators and viewers alike.

This means that TikTok has not only completely changed the way we use social media, but it has also opened up new avenues for online expression and creativity.

Copy and Paste?

TikTok was obviously not the first app to integrate short-form videos, as various apps creating videos and adding filters rose in the market back then.

Released in 2012, Snapchat was one of the first apps to introduce short-form video content, allowing users to record and share their "snaps" in just 60 seconds. Similar to TikTok, Snapchat also offers various filters and effects to add creativity to your videos.

But while TikTok has become well-known for its entertainment value, Snapchat first became well-known as a messaging service that let users send friends self-destructing pictures and videos.

Another app that caught on was Dubsmash, which put a unique spin on short videos with a lip-sync feature. To make your own lip-syncing masterpiece, use Dubsmash to select from a variety of audio snippets from hit songs, films, and TV series. It didn’t, however, garner as much popularity as Tiktok has today.

Thus, in an attempt to compete in the short-form video market, Meta rode the Internet wave and released their own version, Reels. Users may create and share short-form videos on Facebook and Instagram with ease thanks to Reels’ accessibility in both apps.

(Left: The profile page of Instagram Reels. Right: The profile page of TikTok.)

But did you know that Musical.ly was TikTok’s predecessor?

Developed in November 2014, Musical.ly made its market debut following Dubsmash. The lip-sync feature of the latter app is integrated into this one as well, giving users a variety of audio options for creating typical lip-syncing videos.

Then, in 2018, ByteDance purchased Musical.ly and combined the user accounts of both TikTok and Musical.ly, creating a single app under the name TikTok.

Hashtag ‘For You’ Page

The word “trend” was originally coined in the fashion industry. Since then, it has expanded to encompass various aspects of popular culture, including social media platforms.

In the realm of TikTok, trends are well-liked topics, challenges, or forms of content that surface and become well-known among users. Songs, dances, or original content that people copy and personalize are frequently a part of these.

Trends might include viral challenges like the "Renegade" dance, humorous skits, and lip-syncing to popular songs or movie sequences.

TikTok has become a hub for creative expression and entertainment, with users constantly striving to keep up with the latest trends. These trends often have a short lifespan, as new ones quickly emerge and capture the attention of the TikTok community.

Users on TikTok are always eager to jump on these new trends and create their own unique content.

A New Way of Handshakes

As of the second half of 2023, a dance trend had unexpectedly risen to the top.

User ‘@brandongash3ma’ on TikTok, with 31.1k followers, made a dance challenge with a friend on November 3. The song they used was a snippet from Zeddy Will’s “Freak You.”

The challenge was to make you shake your body side to side while your dance partner points their finger at you, as if they’re hyping you up. This video reached two million views, and there are almost 480k posts using the same audio.

Many users, both famous and non-verified, joined in and created their own versions of the dance, adding their own twists and styles.

Local artists and content creators didn't miss out on the trend and also participated in the dance challenge, showcasing their unique talents and adding a local flavor to the viral trend.

As Filipinos were influenced by Maine Mendoza, a.k.a. Yaya Dub, the dance challenge, became a widespread phenomenon across the country, with steps combined with the famous "Pabebe Wave" that the actress started.

"Ang cute ng steps tapos madali lang," said 23-year-old Jasper when asked about why he joined in the fun.

He first saw this trend on Facebook and added that it’s fun to watch the users who take on the challenge. “Hindi [ko] pa [nagagawa], nakakahiyang gawin.”

Rosemarie, 22 years old, has already created her entry on TikTok. Her attention was caught because she thought how cute the users were while doing the dance trend. She decided to give it a try, and found herself enjoying the challenge.

This trend has influenced not only those teenagers but even kids and adults of this generation. What could be the factor that this specific trend attracts its users to hop into it?

According to Clarize (22 years old), she was influenced by her friends to do this challenge. It also gave her a fun time since the steps are easy and the song is catchy. Another 22-year-old, Adam, states that this trend is very engaging. "Nailalabas nito yung extrovert personality ko, even in public," Adam says.

Rose Ann, a 25-year-old mother, agrees that the trend is fun; even her 2-year-old daughter is hooked and has tried the challenge. The dance trend has not only brought people together but has also transcended age barriers. People of all ages, from young children to adults, are participating in this.

(Courtesy of: Rose Ann Landoy)

The simplicity yet fun experience that the trend brings to people is one of the major factors of them hopping into it. Besides that, one that also hooks trend hoppers is the ‘hype-up’ sensation that occurs while doing it with the others.

Born into real-life existence

One of the invisible threads that binds Tiktok users to join the trend that it suggests is the existence of social influence and compliance, that are relevant topics in the Socio-Psychological Tradition. Users may follow these trends in an effort to fit in with a wider group, get acceptance from others, or comply with societal norms.

“Ang fun niya ta’s parang naging test rin siya kung gaano kasabay sa trend yung isang person,” Adam says, explaining why this trend has become popular that users are already doing it through offline interactions.

It’s obvious that this trend is now taking over our real-time experience. You'd see someone suddenly pointing their fingers at a stranger they passed by, while the latter would respond and shake their body, just like in the TikTok dance challenge.

This trend has become so universal that it has blurred the boundaries between the online and offline worlds. People are now incorporating TikTok trends into their everyday lives, using them as a way to connect and engage with others in person. This highlights the power of social media in shaping our behaviors and social dynamics.

Joining in on a well-known and shared experience, those who take part in the dance trend feel validated and that they belong.

Off-the-Grid Modernisation

Incorporating the digital world into real life is often viewed negatively, as this has shown us concerns and issues such as the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and concerns of privacy and cyber threats. People have yet to fully trust the Internet, despite the benefits of using it.

“Okay lang gawin, basta yung makakasalamuhang tao ay kumportable rin at willing na mag-participate sa dance challenge,” says Clarize.

This sense of belonging and validation can be incredibly powerful, especially in a world that often feels disconnected and isolated. People have an opportunity to express themselves creatively and in a way that connects with others on and off TikTok.

As a result, social media sites like TikTok are now used for more than just amusement; they are also a tool for establishing connections and promoting a sense of community that extends outside the Internet.

Let the Philippines' gradual dive into the Internet's cyberspace serve as a beginning for embracing social media's advantageous features.