TikTok sadly has a negative perception. With it being associated with fruits, and heavily criticized for its contents and privacy issues, it surely is not ‘wholesome’ By any measure though, I have somehow found myself spending more time on the app than I would like to confess. Here’s why I still use TikTok anyway.
It’s Full of Fun Surprises
To be honest, one of the reasons I continue to use this app is that you never know what you will see in the feed. Of course, there are millions of dance videos and promising materials of popular challenges that are not so useful in terms of gaining new knowledge. But sometimes, I find something that I would not consider to be trivial: a new tip on how to organize one’s life or a different approach to solving an ordinary issue.
There are things like home chefs, tips and tricks which give different recipe ideas as well as different tricks. Finally, as with any foreseeable tool, AI is rich in what one might call quotidian wisdom practical life hacks that are mundane yet a real addition to my daytime tasks. It may not always be serious, but sometimes it gives you that surprising hit of something that blows your mind, and you just go, ‘did not expect that.’
I Learn Stuff
What was not obvious to me at first was that TikTok can also be a source of learning. Owing to the platform’s format, authors are forced to cram helpful content within brief, vibrant snippets. It is estimated that I have acquired new knowledge as well as skills from these lessons.
While watching, I have managed to learn about small tricks for solving certain simple technical problems without having to watch a full YouTube video. It’s also possible to find countless people who share interesting facts about history or teach you something new about the world we live in with the help of science kits.
What I like about TikTok is that all these lessons come in such brief, simple clips. I think you can pick up something new either while waiting for a turn or during a 5-10-minute break and do not have to be locked into listening to a full 20-minute lecture.
The Creativity Inspires Me to Try to Create as Well
If there is one thing which is striking about TikTok it’s the fact that the place simply oozes creativity. The talents that feature on the platform each day range from DIY skill showcases, to art, and music.
Now and then, I see some users transform trivial items into home accessories, which motivates me to give DIY a try. It is the app that builds an impulse to go and try to have my own creation or start painting, use a piece of clay, etc., for any creation – big or small.
I Still Set Limits for Use
Nevertheless, I am not deaf or blind to some of the TikTok drawbacks here are a few: These are factors of privacy and loss of time when social media apps start to draw people into what can be described as a black hole. I intentionally try to be cautious of these risks by establishing some limits and being very careful about what to watch.
Of course, to maintain some level of normalcy I have imposed some personal restrictions on my TikTok activity. I only use the app during certain times such as when I am in between tasks, or when I am preparing to sleep. I also have notifications on my phone that tell me how much time I have spent with the applications.
Another trick that I have come to use is to make use of the app on a desktop rather than my phone. Thus, although the same algorithm idea is used on the desktop side, the experience here is less engaging. It is much faster for me to close the tab on top of the app I have on my phone.
It is not a fail-proof method but it assists in preventing me from getting lost with the endless scrolling and I am conscious that I am using the application.
