“A List” Celebrities or “TikTok List” Celebrities?! Recently, TikTok has proven to be much more than just a social media app. It has become a “launch-pad” for fame! Once ordinary people are becoming A-list celebrities. For instance, Charlie D’Amelio, a normal, dancing, Catholic school girl, soared to 100 million followers on TikTok in only a year and a half. From there, the D’Amelio family transcended TikTok, venturing into music, television, modeling, and more. Charlie D’Amelio has participated in nationally aired competitions (Dancing with the Stars), Super Bowl commercials, modeling, brand deals, and customized merchandise.
The power of TikTok’s influence has proven to be very promising as these TikTok celebrities have become more than just entertainers; they’re influencers. Their influence extends far beyond the confines of social media; they are now attending The Grammys, movie premieres, The Met Gala, are on the cover of magazines, and even going on tour for music. All it takes is a single viral video to put them on the map for consistent fame and momentum on TikTok.
Oftentimes, a creator will post a video that gains millions of views and likes, but here’s the catch: the video can be immensely informal, like discussing mundane topics or heavily edited, but there is a subtle distinct factor that is appealing. With this criteria, it has led to many individuals rising to the highest tiers of fame. For example, Addison Rae, Charlie D’Amelio, Bryce Hall, and even JoJo Siwa. These named celebrities that have risen to fame through social media have now started a branch of their own type of celebrity: an “Influencer.” This new form of fame leaves the ultimate question to fester. Is TikTok the new and most efficient precursor to success? What pathways to success can we possibly achieve with TikTok under our influence?
TikTok has become the new and improved “dime of our time,” marking these last few years to be the period of a significant cultural phenomenon. As TikTok aired in 2016, not even 10 years ago, the app has evolved to become one of the most viewed and used social media apps ever created. TikTok has 4.7 billion downloads to date. This app has evolved from the theme being similar to Vine, which was a comedy form of entertainment through short clips, to Musical.ly, which was a lip-syncing app (also the usage of short video clips), and now has become an app of fast-moving dance trends, life hacks, entertainment, business advertising and marketing, and shares the necessary daily information on pop culture to “stay in the loop” for normal people.
With the big exposure now being accessible to anyone at any given time, it has perhaps been the most inclusive and social race ever seen, changing raipdly an alarming rate. Consequently, small traits, vibes, choices of clothing, and differences can become very popular due to the wonders of TikTok’s algorithm, which makes certain videos become more shared and seen based on the audience interaction. This technology plays a key role in how certain people become famous and rapidly pick up speed and momentum, continuously feeding the usage of this app, making certain individuals insanely famous and rich.
TikTok first started off as an insanely popular app, but in the climax of 2020, everyone was rapidly mixing in with its involvement in pop culture. From new music, dance trends, life hacks, entertainment, and even the formation of “TikTok” language, this app became the forefront of usage and sociality of Gen Z (it even dispersed into other generations as well). Soon enough, the advertisers got on board, noticing the potential of TikTok marketing. Now brand deals are common for people popular on TikTok. Within the last few months, the incorporation of TikTok Shop has now been added, making this app a triple threat to other companies and even social media platforms.
As we continue to learn about this app and the changes it has made to our daily lives, it is easy for us to recognize that it is the future of social media. Now as the world is catching up with its revolutionary futuristic qualities of the potential of social media, there are websites and classes to which gaining exposure on TikTok is one of the most important places to market yourself, your products, or your services. Optimal and practical information regarding how to target the algorithm, what sounds to utilize, and how to make an attractive video, have become the future elements of marketing, that companies are absorbing into their marketing management. TikTok has gone as far as to hire Gen Z ‘youngsters’ to better target and expand their audience and apply trends in a way that older generations might not understand or be as equipped to create.
As shown, TikTok is a social media platform that is changing the way that the world works! It is revolutionizing the way that information is seen, how products are advertised, the integration of social media into our daily lives, and even the new and upcoming influencers of generations to come. Join the conversation and explore the world of TikTok influencers. Whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or simply a fan, TikTok offers endless opportunities for connection and creativity. The D’Amelio family likely never thought that they would be able to buy a mansion and have a personal reality TV show because their daughter danced on TikTok one day in high school.
