How strange that the name of the app gets flagged on the actual app. Doesn’t that seem like an oxymoron? People have resorted to calling it the Clock App or TT. It’s bizarre to me. As are most of the trending videos, but does that mean I stay away from it? Heck no! I’m right there in the middle of it, watching the show from the fringe.
For those who have never used the app, trust me, it’s more than just dancing people. In fact, I’m not sure I have even seen any dances during my time on the platform. What I did see, at first, were a lot of cooking videos. Until I started searching for the types of content I wanted to see. (Writer/Reader, Booktok, Marvel, etc.) then the algorithms pick up what I stay and watch and what things I scroll right past. (Sorry thirst traps. Y’all are too young for me and WELL out of my league.)
Then it’s a matter of acquiring followers. Everything is a popularity contest. Even social media. High school never ends, people. Since I was a wallflower in high school, I’m a wallflower here as well, but I joined the app mostly because I’m an author. My job is to go where the readers go in the hope that maybe new readers will discover me. I’ve heard rumors that TT can make authors go viral, but so far, I’ve got little more than the sniffles. *snort. Get it? Viral? Sniffles… I’ll see myself out.
That said, is it a waste of time? I mean, I’d rather post there than on some of the other social media I’m on, but with any platform, there are going to be pros and cons. Who knows? Maybe next week, I’ll feel differently. Because that’s marketing, baby. Ever-changing.
Be careful, though. You can easily waste several hours scrolling 15-60 second videos. HOURS. Gone, in the blink of an eye. Those algorithms know what they are doing.
Until next time my friends!
Danielle/Dani Bannister author and poster of weird videos no one watches
Danielle Bannister, Author 