20 Pros And Cons Of TikTok

Social media has become quite popular around the globe and TikTok is among the most commonly used platforms. One of the things that make it popular is that it is available to use completely free of charge.

It allows users to share content in the form of videos, audio, and pictures. It’s available as a mobile app and a web-based platform for users globally and that also makes it an ideal place to market services and products.

Whether you are looking for new friends, want to showcase talent, find new information, or market your brand, this platform can be quite helpful. But to harness its full potential, you must be aware of both the pros and the cons of TikTok.

In this post, we will discuss the same to help you make an informed decision.

Read on.

TikTok Pros

Let’s talk about the plus points of TikTok, to begin with.

1. Offers exceptional reach

In the United States alone, there are over 150 million active TikTok users. The numbers grow by a huge margin if you consider that TikTok is popular worldwide.

It is with this in mind that many businesses are taking advantage of the platform to advertise their products and services. With well-crafted messages and videos, there is a huge possibility that a single marketing message can reach millions of people within a few hours.

Whether you are selling products and services locally or internationally, you can be sure to reach many people on this platform. The best part is that TikTok content can easily be shared on the same platform but also integrates with others which increases the chances of your messages going viral.

Individuals that have the Pro account get important analytics. These can help them understand their audiences more and fashion messages in a way that appeals to an even larger base.

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2. It is affordable

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One of the things that take up a lot of resources is marketing. Whether you own a startup or a well-established business, there is always a need to run marketing campaigns as a way of increasing awareness and beating the competition.

Marketing requires you to spend a considerable amount of money including payment for things like cards, and airtime, among others. TikTok makes it possible for both startups and established business entities to run marketing campaigns without spending too much money.

For instance, if you are just getting started, you can craft marketing messages using your own mobile device and share them with friends and family online. You do not have to spend any extra cash on such an undertaking.

Well-established business entities have the option of outsourcing marketing campaigns to influencers that have already made a name or created a following on the platform. The good news is that even such entities do not have to spend too much money to get things done.

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3. Signing up is easy

The process of signing up for an account on this platform is relatively easy. You can do it by visiting the main site on your web browser and then entering your email address.

Alternatively, you can sign up with your phone number. There is also the option of visiting the App Store or Google Play and then downloading the TikTok app before installation.

Once you install it, you’ll be free to sign up using an existing email address or a phone number. Immediately after you complete the process, you’ll receive an activation link for your account.

You can then head over to the profile section and enter a username. This process is pretty simple and will only take up a few minutes.

4. Caters to all ages

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Some social media platforms are ideal for specific age groups because of the type of content they tend to publish. For instance, platforms such as Twitter and Reddit tend to have mature content which may not be ideal for young audiences.

On the other hand, platforms such as Spotlite and Snapchat tend to be more appealing to teens. TikTok strikes a balance in every way which is why you can expect to find people of varying age groups on the platform.

This means that you can craft your marketing messages and target specific age groups without having to switch from one platform to another.

5. TikTok is free

Another impressive thing about TikTok is that it is completely free of charge. You can sign up at any time and start enjoying almost all its features without having to pay.

You are free to upload as many videos as you like. You can also go live and broadcast your creativity.

6. Accommodates different video lengths

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Many social media platforms have a limit to the amount of time a video can run. For instance, WhatsApp requires users to share clips that are less than 30 seconds long.

TikTok caps its video length at 10 minutes. However, users are free to create videos of varying lengths as long as it does not exceed the said limit.

One of the reasons for capping the length of each video is that shorter videos generally tend to get the most positive feedback. Keep in mind that most people do not go on TikTok to watch feature-length productions.

Instead, they just want something short they can consume easily and quickly.

7. Videos can be about anything

As long as you stay away from nudity and anything that may promote racism or prejudice, you are free to create any type of content on TikTok.

Some of the most popular things to do include dancing, singing, and sharing daily routines. One of the main advantages of having such a huge community as what you get on TikTok is that there are always people with the same interest as you.

That means you’ll quickly meet new people who will make your experience memorable.

8. You can monetize content

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Another exciting thing about TikTok is that it offers people from around the world the opportunity to start generating a little extra income. But first, you’ll need to establish your niche.

For instance, you need to be good at dancing, cooking, singing, or vlogging before your viewership grows. The more followers you get the higher your chances of making more money.

One of the ways to make money is to have brands advertise their products or services through your TikTok account. You can then agree on the amount you wish to get.

Another way to make money on this platform is by selling merchandise. These could be anything including electronics, clothes, appliances, and software, among others.

The next method requires you to create an account and have your fans donate toward your course. This is often the best way for creatives to generate enough money to continue doing whatever they are doing.

The best part is that as long as you keep people entertained or demonstrate a valid reason for needing the money, you’ll always have people contributing to your kitty.

9. Enhances communications

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Another benefit of TikTok is that it makes communications much easier and more fun. For example, it is always a good thing to see whoever you are communicating with.

That is because you get to read their physical expressions as well as hear their voice. TikTok Live makes it possible for people to engage with their audiences on screen.

You can either choose to respond through video messages or texts. Live interactions also mean you can get instant feedback from your audiences and that can be a good way to grow your channel or sell more products and services.

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10. Easily learn about new places and people

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One of the best things about TikTok is that it is open to people across the globe. Creators often share videos of their cultures and lifestyles and this makes it easy for people in different regions to learn new things.

In fact, it is not a surprise that many people learn new languages by interacting with friends they meet on this platform. Another impressive thing is that creators tend to share content about new places they visit.

This opens up perspectives and makes it possible for you to learn about new places and activities you can start engaging in.

11. TikTok is entertaining

If you are looking for some entertainment, heading over to TikTok can be one of the best decisions you ever make. There are millions of people sharing different types of things daily.

Comedy skits, singing competitions, bizarre happenings, and tourist activities are among some of the things you’ll find.

12. TikTok offers cool filters

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Another pleasant thing about TikTok is that it makes it possible for you to incorporate a variety of filters and effects into your videos. These can range from hilarious dog faces to scary ghosts and even animated characters.

Filters can also include color grading and the addition of backgrounds or other types of objects. These filters and effects work even when you are broadcasting live.

13. TikTok helps shoppers

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Maybe you are thinking of buying a cool purse or that trendy shirt that has just hit the market but you do not know exactly where to go to get it. TikTok adverts can be a good way for you to find out more about the products and services that are trending.

You can even get to interact with sellers directly and have them deliver whatever you want to your doorstep. What’s more, most sellers on the platform tend to run promotional campaigns and are therefore likely to offer products and services at a discount.

TikTok Cons

Take a look at some of the downsides of using TikTok.

1. TikTok encourages negative comparisons

While it is true that most social media platforms encourage negative comparisons, this issue is more pronounced on TikTok. That is because it utilizes video representation more than most other platforms.

The problem is that most TikTok videos are extremely short and therefore tend to give a false sense of reality. For instance, someone may take a short clip next to an extremely expensive car and claim to have bought it.

This makes others feel like they are inadequate since they have not yet made enough money to buy a fancy car. The same applies to those who show off expensive meals, exotic locations, and so forth.

Most things on the platform seem to be glamorized and that means you’ll start trying to achieve unrealistic goals just so you can fit in with the group of people you find interesting on the platform.

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2. Sometimes TikTok creates a space for bullying

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While TikTok has different policies to guard against potential negative behavior, it does not yet have a way of curbing things like bullying. It is common to find a lot of comments talking negatively about a user on the platform or their house or general lifestyle.

For example, people who live all the way across the world may not like the eating habits of someone from a different culture and that can lead to expressions of disgust. There are also people who may end up calling others names just because of race, body size, or an opinion they shared.

3. May compromise productivity

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One of the things that makes TikTok an impressive platform is that it contains a lot of interesting videos. However, this can also produce negative effects.

People who are expected to focus on work may end up drifting off to the world of TikTok and this can reduce productivity. Instead of working for as long as required, they end up spending a few hours on important tasks and the rest is wasted on TikTok.

This is also true for those who are studying. A lot of students spend their time browsing through video clips that end up eating into their study time.

Unless you learn how to strike a healthy balance between TikTok and other things you may end up failing to meet your goals.

4. Malicious people can use TikTok to spread misinformation

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While TikTok is not the only social media platform used to spread false information, it is definitely one of the most prominent. Keep in mind that this platform allows just about anyone to sign up and start creating or producing content.

There are not many ways of keeping everyone on the platform factual and that is why you can expect to find a lot of misinformation. Sometimes the information is spread to scare people while other times it is spread to promote a product or service.

There are even users who take advantage of the platform to create fake situations and then ask their audiences to send some money for help.

5. Contains inappropriate content

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Another negative about TikTok is that it contains certain things that are inappropriate for people of a younger age group. Of course, this is not the platform’s fault.

Inappropriate content exists on just about every other social media site and that is because those who use them have the freedom to share whatever they feel like. In certain cases, underage kids can come across content meant for a mature audience.

Again, it is worth pointing out that most platforms include parental controls. But few people utilize those. Additionally, the younger generations seem to come up with ways of getting around such controls.

6. It promotes cancel culture

Cancel culture refers to a situation where somebody commits a mistake and their account is blocked or they get ostracized. In certain cases, the mistakes are so minute that they do not deserve the attention they often get.

While it is quite understandable to keep everyone accountable, sometimes the price they pay is not commensurate with the wrong they have done. Cancel culture often isolates an individual from society and can promote hate for that person.

While it is fine to hold people to account for their actions, it is also important to give them leeway to make mistakes, learn from them, and grow.

7. It can compromise privacy

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Many times people take videos of their current locations including where they eat and where they live. This habit can be such that a creator shows every part of their home including the security features and where everything is kept.

The problem with sharing such things is that anyone with ill intentions can get a hold of it and use it maliciously. For instance, a stalker may quickly learn about your whereabouts and show up where you are.

There is also the possibility of thieves breaking into your house and making away with some of your most prized possessions. Anyone with a TikTok account must be keen on privacy issues and only share information that will not compromise their safety or that of their loved ones.

Also Read: Alternative Social Media Platforms To Consider

Wrapping Up

TikTok can be an awesome place to go when you need to get your daily dose of entertainment. It is also a good place to find information, share your opinions, and even market products and services.

However, it is not all rosy because it has certain downsides. Learning about both the pros and cons of TikTok can be a good way for you to maximize the advantages and do everything you can to keep the disadvantages to their bare minimum.