Most social media apps seem to be copying TikTok. Here’s why I can’t stand it.
There are plenty of different social media platforms for you to enjoy. The problem is, they all want to jump on the latest trend. TikTok seems to have all the other platforms scrambling to copy it, trying desperately to retain the attention of users.
The result? Reddit splitting its feed into Read and Watch. Instagram and YouTube focusing on Reels and Shorts respectively. And more apps jumping on the short-form video bandwagon. The TikTok-ification of social media is well and truly here…and I hate it.
First off, you're probably wondering what "TikTok-ification" actually is. Basically, it's the process of other social media platforms introducing features that copy features first seen or made popular on TikTok. The best example of this is how Instagram and YouTube tried to combat the short-form video craze by focusing on Reels and Shorts, respectively.
Not even Reddit is safe. Reddit launched a TikTok-style video feed on iOS that shows that truly, no matter what your preferences are, all these social platforms just want to ensure they're not being left behind.
Social platforms have always copied each other, it's nothing new. So if you're wondering why TikTok-ification is particularly bad, read on…
Social media dominates people's attention. How many times have you been scrolling, only to look up from the screen and realize hours have passed? For short-form videos, this seems to be particularly easy to do. By being shorter, the videos seem like less of a commitment, but you end up consuming more content because of that.
At least on Reddit, Quora, or Facebook, you're likely to keep your attention on one topic for a longer period of time. You're more likely to learn something that way. The more socials taken up with short-form video feeds, the harder it's going to be to ensure you're not getting sucked into scrolling and watching for long periods of time.
Short-form videos can rarely go into as much depth about a subject as a long-form video or long text post could. If you're intentionally sitting around to kill time, then that's fine. But I believe people should be mindful of this, because of how addictive short-form videos can be.
Short videos that you'd come across on TikTok are mostly vapid, "entertaining" posts that don't go beyond the surface level of whatever topic they're covering. It's a lot of pointless dancing, "challenges", Q&As, and just chaotic randomness. There is so much educational content out there that you end up missing as a result. In fact, 10-minute videos seem too long for TikTok, despite the fact they work just fine on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms.
I don't think there's anything wrong with watching some funny content for half an hour or so after a busy day, but the problem is the more you watch, the more the algorithm serves the same content to you. It's very easy to get stuck into a rut this way. I also concede that there is some educational content on TikTok, but it's not the type that seems to perform as well, on average, as the light-hearted entertainment content does.
While socials have always "borrowed" ideas from each other and competed to offer as much as possible to users, this practice is uninspired. The TikTok-ification trend is even worse because of how blatant it is. Platforms aren't even trying to hide their uninspired feature-stealing anymore.
There used to be a reason for different social platforms and they had different user bases as a result. This is becoming less true over time, as all platforms try to emulate each other. The result? You end up with every last social media app on your phone, dominating yet more of your attention and time. And when you ask yourself "Why am I on all of these platforms?" you'll find you struggle to give a decent answer.
TikTok-ification represents social media's decline from being innovative to plain uninspired and boring.
There is lots of research that visual content (image and video) promotes self-esteem issues, particularly in teenagers. While this problem was largely noted through Instagram, TikTok is not exactly helping the issue.
TikTok (and other visual-based platforms) encourage teenagers to "go live" to their friends, post visual content, and force filters down their throats. While visual content's effects on vanity and self-esteem issues are not a problem reserved to only TikTok, it is one of the reasons TikTok is bad for everyone.
Since research has already noted that the next generation is growing up with self-esteem issues and feeling like they always have to look their best (or apply filters to hide their true appearance), do we really want to be encouraging this?
Personally, I don't think so. I'm not sure what the answer is, and visual content isn't inherently bad. But there's a definite need to address the issue and figure out how we can enjoy visual content without pressuring everyone and making them think they're ugly.
Once platforms start adopting TikTok's features and feed styles, it is only a matter of time before they start adopting the algorithm TikTok uses. In case you're unaware, TikTok has a very aggressive algorithm that takes a local focus. In general, TikTok is dangerous to your personal privacy, and the algorithm is just one aspect of that.
The debate online surrounding our right to privacy and how socials regularly disregard this doesn't need to go away any time soon. The last thing we need is other social platforms adopting more invasive algorithms.
All these social media companies seem to believe that by copying TikTok, you'll be more likely to remain on their platforms. But is that really true? I doubt I'm the only one who despises TikTok and its effects on the mainstream. Users generally differ in terms of their preferences, intentions, and beliefs. This is why we have many different platforms—so that everyone can find a platform that aligns with what they're looking for.
Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms copying TikTok run the risk of alienating their users, which is ironic considering the purpose behind these copy-and-paste feature additions. Many users complained about Instagram copying TikTok, which just shows you that TikTok-ification isn't always in a platform's best interests.
Seriously, social platforms need to stop copying TikTok and be secure in doing their own thing. Sadly, it seems that no matter how much you wish to avoid TikTok, it is becoming harder and harder to achieve.
If enough people speak out about the issue online, perhaps social media platforms will stop trying to be the same as each other and realize that there are different reasons for each to exist.
Brad is a Staff Writer for Gaming & Social Media. Interested in a variety of lifestyle-based topics, Brad usually writes articles around tech’s relationship to people. Brad holds a 1st Class BA degree in Digital Marketing.