What is TikTok and why does it appeal to young people?

Social networking apps have become an essential part of modern life. Facebook and YouTube are growing strongly in Vietnam, but most users now pay more attention to a newer app that only arrived in recent years: TikTok. So what is TikTok? What made TikTok successful? All your questions will be MONA Media answered in today's article.

TikTok app specifications

• Platform: iOS 9.0 and above, Android 5.0 and above
• Download size: iOS ~400MB and Android ~84MB
• App type: Social network, video editing app
• Publisher: TikTok Pte

What is TikTok? Which country does TikTok come from?

What is TikTok, and why are young people so keen to use it? Mention TikTok and users think of the app known for countless very “trendy” short videos about fashion, lifestyle and more. TikTok's reach in recent years shows it has become a leading entertainment app and part of the daily life of young people in Vietnam and around the world.

TikTok is a mobile app that lets users create and share short, creative, original videos. Its original name is Douyin (also known as Vibrato), and it comes from China. With billions of downloads and users, TikTok has become a phenomenon that crosses geographic and age boundaries. On TikTok, users can follow and run into their favorite “idols” through the funny videos they post.

–> Read more: What is TikTok Shop? A guide to opening a TikTok Shop

What are the pros and cons of TikTok?

What are TikTok's advantages?

On TikTok, users enjoy a great experience thanks to these easy-to-spot advantages:

• Smooth videos with original, engaging content that no other platform has matched.
• Very simple to sign up for and easy, convenient to use.
• Lets users freely express their creativity and break out with videos in their own style.
• Users can discover scenic spots and distinctive customs, at home and abroad, through the phone screen.
• You can earn extra income with TikTok through online selling, product PR or running ads.

What are TikTok's disadvantages?

However, TikTok still has some drawbacks that leave users less than satisfied, including:

• Video quality is not tightly controlled before posting. You will probably see videos with offensive or violent content.
• Young people today are hooked on TikTok and spend far too much time scrolling and commenting.
• Building controversial topics to draw interaction, shares and follows leads to unpredictable consequences.
• Personal information leaks easily. TikTok in particular is a smart app that can easily guess your goals and needs in order to market products and services to you.

Where does TikTok's revenue come from?

Now that we know what TikTok is, let's look at where TikTok's profits come from. TikTok currently earns revenue in 2 main ways: in-app purchases and TikTok For Business. This lets brands interact and connect with audiences worldwide.

How to download TikTok to your phone

To download the TikTok app to your phone easily, follow these 2 steps:

• Step 1: Go to the app store, CH Play (Android) or App Store (iOS), and download the TikTok app.
• Step 2: Sign up for a TikTok account using a related social account such as Facebook, Google or Instagram. Once that is done, you can explore what the app offers.

Why TikTok has been so successful

Catching users' tastes

With just the TikTok app, users can reach dozens of different short entertainment videos. Because it catches users' tastes so well, TikTok keeps getting more popular and “addictive” for young people.

TikTok's algorithm is very smart

TikTok is one of the apps with a very smart algorithm. Just by scrolling through content, or liking and commenting on a video, TikTok instantly guesses what you care about and suggests more videos on related topics. Conversely, if you swipe quickly past a video, the algorithm notes it and shows you less similar content.

Creative and engaging

No other platform is as fun, engaging and creative as TikTok. The app has built-in filters, text effects, sound and music for users to experiment with. New “rising” sounds are added quickly so you can “catch the trend” fast.

Easy to make videos on TikTok

Another advantage is that TikTok is user-friendly and makes it easy to create videos on the spot. If you lack editing skills, experience or modern equipment, TikTok supports you with a full set of editing tools to create creative content. Users can also record video directly in the app or upload videos shot earlier on their phone.

–> See more: What is POV? How to make engaging POV videos on TikTok

Constantly updated, creating new trends

Another plus: the app is constantly updated to create new content that leads trends. On TikTok, almost every week there is a new “trend” in music, games, challenges or dances. This encourages users to join trends and create more new content.

See more:

• Facebook Advertising Service OUR COMMITMENT: TRUSTED – EFFECTIVE
• Corporate photography services TRUSTED – PROFESSIONAL

Use music without copyright violations

TikTok lets you use licensed music to make videos. This is limited on other platforms such as YouTube. You can use many popular songs for trending dance challenges or lip-sync videos.

Many chances to become famous

TikTok gives users many chances to become famous. Linh Barbie, Đức Anh, Võ Thành Ý, Trà Đặng and others, with creative videos reaching millions of views, are the clearest proof. You can be better known on this platform too if you know how to create original content, interact and connect with users regularly, and above all stay persistent.

Benefits of TikTok for businesses

With its wide reach, no limit on ad display and no competition from other platforms, TikTok is seen as an effective marketing channel that many businesses are turning to.

It is easy to see many brands running campaigns such as challenges or contests on TikTok to get users to create content about their products or brand. Some businesses doing marketing on this platform do not focus much on selling, but mainly create many intro videos to build trust in the brand. Partnering with well-known, influential TikTokers and KOLs also helps businesses expand their potential market and raise awareness effectively.

The platform's biggest potential, not to be overlooked, is TikTok Shop, “where views turn into orders”.

To make the most of this opportunity, MONA Media offers a TikTok Shop store setup service done properly from the start, together with TikTok Shop management service professional management that helps businesses “boost sales”. Contact HOTLINE 1900 636 648 us to start winning the market on today's fastest-growing commerce platform with MONA.

Another way for businesses to use TikTok is to pay for TikTok ads. The TikTok For Business tool lets users review and change their brand's ad campaigns in the platform's own way. TikTok Ads Manager also lets businesses launch, track and pay for ad campaigns.

In addition, the ecosystem of 

→See more: What is TikTok Business? Benefits of a TikTok Business account

How to create an account and use TikTok

How to register a TikTok account

Once the TikTok app is installed, you can register with a phone number or through linked social accounts such as Google, Facebook or Instagram. To register on your phone, follow these quick steps:

Open the TikTok app -> enter your phone number -> enter the verification code -> enter a password -> enter your personal information.

How to use the TikTok app

You can “master” the TikTok app in just 5 simple steps:

• Step 1: After installing the app, tap the “+” icon and pick the music genre you like to record a video.
• Step 2: Tap “Confirm use and start recording” to record, and allow camera and microphone access when asked. Hold the record button the whole time you record.
• Step 3: Once you are in the recording screen, choose the video tools that make your video more engaging.
• Step 4: Under “volume”, adjust the volume as you like. To save the latest video, tap “Continue” and then the “download” icon to save it to your phone.
• Step 5: In the last step you can share the video you just made with everyone.

Some terms to know when using the TikTok app

Tiktoker

What is a TikToker? A TikToker is a term for someone who uses TikTok and creates content on it. They often take part in challenges, trends and movements popular on the platform. Or a TikToker may simply use the platform for entertainment or to share a variety of clips in their own style.

Follow

What does Follow mean on TikTok? On TikTok, Follow refers to the number of people following you and the number of people you follow. “Following” lists the people you follow, which means the videos they create and share appear first in your feed. “Followers” is the number of people following your TikTok account.

Duet

What is Duet on TikTok? Duet is a special feature loved by many young people because it lets users record a “duet video” with other famous TikTokers or newcomers. Duet is highly interactive and encourages creativity among TikTokers to make videos that lead trends.

ID Tiktok

What is a TikTok ID? A TikTok ID is the code of a TikTok account once it is created. Each account gets a different ID, made of letters or numbers written together, with no spaces or punctuation. With a TikTok ID you can find friends quickly. A TikTok ID starts with “@”, for example @12345.

Hashtag Tik Tok

What is a TikTok hashtag? A TikTok hashtag is usually added to a video's description or caption so others can find it and connect it with similar content. A hashtag is written as #(hashtag name), with the words written together and without diacritics. For example #xuhuong, #trending, #mrt. A hashtag can be at most 150 characters, including the # sign.

TikTok Wallet

What is TikTok Wallet? TikTok Wallet is a feature that lets users add money to their TikTok account. You can use it to donate to TikTokers you like. Although TikTok Wallet is not yet really developed in Vietnam, it is still included in the app's updates.

Types of videos posted on TikTok

What kinds of videos can be posted on TikTok? You can freely create videos with special effects and impressive content that draws a lot of interaction from users. But before posting any video on TikTok, think carefully to avoid topics for building a TikTok channel violating TikTok's policies and drawing negative reactions from the online community.

Why does TikTok appeal to young people?

What is TikTok and why does it appeal so much to young people? It is not hard to see why. TikTok lets users get closer to the people they admire through everyday videos and chatty live streams. By serving random “hot trend” videos, TikTok has become a “hard habit to quit” for young people.

In addition, you can also make money on TikTok in several ways, such as taking video editing jobs, sharing tips on an effective way to build a TikTok channel for beginners, or selling online. These are areas you should not overlook on this promising platform.

TikTok is probably a name that is no longer unfamiliar to social media fans. But not everyone fully understands the concept of “What is TikTok?” and what made TikTok successful. We hope the content above gives you plenty of useful information and helps you use and make the most of the TikTok platform sensibly. Let's MONA Media explore more interesting articles in the next post.

→Explore now: TikTok advertising service cut costs, grow sales