Gen Z Expression: TikTok

"TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy." - TikTok, About Page

What Are You TikTok'n About?

TikTok, a popular platform for many Generation Z members captivates their audience with catchy tunes, creative dances, and overall amusing videos. TikTok allows the Gen Z audience to express their ideas through innovative videos. Similar to its predecessors Vine and Musical.ly, users are able to create short videos using the platform and share them with friends.

With over 1.5 billion downloads, TikTok has proven to be a popular platform for many. But why does TikTok appeal to Gen Z in particular? According to the Digiday market research team, TikTok appeals to Gen Z because of the audiences need to be entrepreneurs as well as creators. In the era of influencers, Gen Z's everywhere crave to be leaders and value their own individual expression. TikTok appeals to the Gen Z audience's needs on several levels.

Social Media platforms can be used to start revolutions and enact change. But on the flip side, the platforms can be used for awful things like bullying, body shaming, and violence which youths are especially prone to.

Ethical Conflict

Knowing a large majority of TikTok's audience is 10 to 20 years old, should TikTok be required to place stricter user guidelines for minors?

Pros

The internet is forever and with a full life ahead of Gen Z, it is not something that should be taken lightly. Gen Z is intuitive and digitally native with a vast knowledge of TikTok's capabilities. But just because this audience knows how to use technology doesn't mean they ALL know how to use it right. Heck, even some adults struggle with the concept.

With the consequences of sheer stupidity being remarkably detrimental to someone's life, TikTok shouldn't leave user error up to chance. Certain safeguards should be put in place on TikTok protecting Gen Z in particular from bullying and violence. These safeguards would never restrict creativity they would simply enhance everyone's experience and the overall safety of the social medium.

Cons

TikTok is one of the few creative outlets where Generation Z is able to fully express itself. Creativity and general expression of identity should be fluid and without tight restrictions that limit creativity. When past generations were younger the only way they learned was from doing and making mistakes. These imperfections are bound to happen and should be embraced as learning experiences.

Media Ethics Issues and Cases talks about Utilitarianism and its specific role in media. "The consequences of actions are important in deciding whether they are ethical" (pg. 12). Despite a few people being harmed because of TikTok's lack of safeguards, the majority of Gen Z would benefit. Therefore making it unethical for TikTok to use stricter guidelines.

The Solution

Clearly this is quite the ethical conundrum; however, there is a clear winner here. As Spider-Man once said, "with great power comes great responsibility". TikTok, in this case, is the all-powerful platform for Gen Z and it has an ethical responsibility to protect it's own.