It has
become impossible to ignore TikTok. It is been a hugely popular short-form
video app for hyperkinetic bursts of self-expression for years, now with more
than 1 billion active users worldwide (some even use it as a search engine).
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TikTok is not just
for viral dance videos — it is also wildly complicated. Its algorithm, which
makes it easy to consume videos, has been blamed for amplifying misinformation
and other harmful content. The Biden administration is currently negotiating with
ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, over concerns about national
security and the safety of Americans’ personal data on foreign servers. And
there are ongoing concerns about the mental health harms the app may pose to
teenagers and young people.
But at least for
now, TikTok is only growing in influence. If you have constantly heard it
mentioned by your friends (and children) but have been unsure how it works,
this guide is for you. No need to be embarrassed.
Once you have
learned the basics, you will be better equipped to delve into
#BookTok and
other trends making news, supervise a child’s new account, or just see what all
the fuss is about.
Getting started
If you want to add TikTok to your phone, download the app from your
phone’s app store. TikTok is ad-supported and generally free.
Once you install
the app, you must go through the familiar social-media ritual of setting up a
new user account and profile page with a username and photo.
On the profile
screen, tap the menu icon in the upper-right corner for the account settings,
including parental controls.
Finding videos
After you log in, tap the Home icon, and TikTok will start showing videos.
The For You feed shows videos that TikTok’s recommendation algorithm thinks you
will like, based on how you react to other videos and accounts. The Following
feed shows clips from accounts you have chosen to follow.
Swipe up to go to
the next clip. The vertical strip along the screen’s right side also has icons
for liking a video, leaving a comment, and sharing.
TikTok’s algorithm
delivers entertaining videos, but it has also been criticized for helping posts
with misinformation go viral. You can address that by being proactive about who
you follow.
Tap the magnifying
glass in the upper-right corner to search for people or organizations you
trust, or keywords. If you watch a video and want to follow that account, tap
the account’s username or icon and then tap Follow in the profile page.
If you select the
Add Friend icon in the top-left corner of your profile page, TikTok asks to
access your phone’s contacts list to help you find acquaintances on the
platform; you can decline. Unlike accounts on the Following list, Friends are
people who follow you back; you can see their videos on the Friends tab. A
final option is the real-time live video at the top right.
Making videos
Ready to make your first video? You
can create a mini-movie of just about anything that meets TikTok’s community
guidelines — and people do, including book and music reviews, crazy dances, funny
pet moments, daily fashion choices, cooking demonstrations, language lessons,
and do-it-yourself tips.
You can record and
edit your video directly in the app by tapping the + icon in the bottom-center
of the screen, selecting Camera, and hitting the Record button. Choose Story if
you want to create a short clip that’s visible for only 24 hours. To upload a
series of still photos, tap the Templates option to create an animated
slideshow.
TikTok videos tend
to be short, but they can run up to 10 minutes. There’s a timer option on the
recording screen. From the corresponding icons onscreen, you can flip the
camera’s view, zoom in or adjust the speed of the recording.
Already have a clip
you want to use? To upload a video on your phone, tap the Upload button on
screen and select the file from your camera roll.
Before you publish
your video, tap the Add Sound button at the top of the screen to slap on a
soundtrack from TikTok’s searchable library of music snippets if you do not
want to use the clip’s natural audio.
From the icons
along the left side of the screen, you can apply filters and special effects
like sparkles and lens flares to alter the overall look of the video. You can
also overlay stickers, text titles, and closed captions.
Posting videos
After you have edited your video, tap the Next button. On the Post screen,
add hashtags, username mentions, location tags, and permissions for who can see
and comment on your video. The Post screen includes a few advanced options,
like Stitch, which allows other users to combine your video with theirs, and
Duet, which allows users to post clips right beside another user’s video and
play in a split-screen view, creating a dialogue or musical performance.
When you are
finished, tap the Post button to share your creation with the TikTok world. If
you later change your mind, open the video, tap the three-dot menu icon on the
screen’s right edge, and select Delete.
The TikTok site has a full user guide, but you may learn
more (and have more fun) by just playing around in the app.
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