"The Excitement of TikTok Trends and the Risks They Bring"

In today’s generation, it is very evident that TikTok has quickly become a favorite among young people, especially in the Philippines. According to Zhang (2024), TikTok is a social media platform that allows users to create and share short videos that feature a wide range of content such as dance challenges, comedy content, and other trending and engaging videos, and because of this, it gained immense popularity. However, TikTok also has a significant impact on culture and society, raising concerns about censorship, mental health, and the influence of its algorithm on users (LaFleur, 2023).

Chapple (2020) states that the number of TikTok users reached over 2 billion globally in 2020, and its smart and addictive algorithm is claimed to be one of the main factors driving its success, since the application recommends videos tailored to individual preferences. Unlike other platforms, TikTok allows users to go viral at any point in time, which opens the door for self expression and creativity (Qin et al., 2022). TikTok also offers a lot of advantages, such as business potential, education, and entertainment. Raymond (2025) claims that the platform provides a variety of entertaining videos that encourage users to explore new trends in addition to keeping them interested.  Additionally, it makes it simple for educators and content creators to share educational content, and TikTok's shop function has made it a successful marketing tool for businesses looking to reach consumers (Kakadia, 2024). However, TikTok has also come into criticism for limiting content on sensitive topics and for highlighting unrealistic beauty standards that many creators face consequences for not meeting (Knight, 2023).

To sum up, TikTok is more than simply an entertaining app; it actively influences how our young people interact with the world and view themselves. Although it offers an opportunity for creativity and communication, users should be mindful of its disadvantages, such as censorship and unrealistic expectations. With that, the impact of TikTok on society must be understood by its users as it grows.

References:

Chapple, C. (2020). TikTok crosses 2 billion downloads after best quarter for any app ever. Sensor Tower. https://sensortower.com/blog/tiktok-downloads-2-billion

LaFleur, G. (2023, December 19). TikTok. WhatIs. https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/TikTok

Kakadia, K. (2024, November 5). How to Grow Your Business with TikTok: A Step-by-Step Success Guide. Sociallyin. https://sociallyin.com/blog/how-to-grow-your-business-with-tiktok/

Knight, B. (2023). TikTok and body image: idealistic content may be detrimental to mental health. UNSW Sites. https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/08/tiktok-and-body-image--idealistic-content-may-be-detrimental-to-

Qin, Y., Omar, B., & Musetti, A. (2022). The addiction behavior of short-form video app TikTok: The information quality and system quality perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.932805

Raymond, D. (2025, May 5). Top 10 Pros & Advantages of Using TikTok. ProjectManagers.net. https://projectmanagers.net/top-10-pros-advantages-of-using-tiktok/

Zhang, V. (2024, June 14). What is TikTok and how did it become so successful? Meltwater. https://www.meltwater.com/en/blog/the-rise-of-tiktok-a-guide-for-marketers