{"id":8658,"date":"2019-02-22T18:00:35","date_gmt":"2019-02-22T23:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/do-you-tiktok-the-world-does\/"},"modified":"2019-02-25T09:31:40","modified_gmt":"2019-02-25T14:31:40","slug":"do-you-tiktok-the-world-does","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/submission\/do-you-tiktok-the-world-does\/","title":{"rendered":"Do you TikTok? The world does!!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>TikTok<\/strong> is a looping short video sharing platform that allows users to create and upload upto 15 seconds videos which are as raw as they can be or as sophisticated as the user wants, using simple tools and special effects provided within the app. Locally, known as Douyin in China, TikTok was launched in 2016 and in the last 2 years its user base has grown exponentially reaching more than half a billion active users with 40% of them outside China making it a first globally successful \u201cmade in China\u201d app. ByteDance \u2013 the company behind TikTok has become the most valuable startup (valued at $75B), even higher than Uber. [1]<\/p>\n<p><strong>How does TikTok create Value?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>TikTok makes \u201cevery second count!\u201d \u2013 as says its tagline.<\/p>\n<p>Technically, TikTok allows users to upload short videos and it learns viewer\u2019s preferences by the kind of videos watched (fully or partially) thereby queuing the similar videos to keep the user entertained. [2]<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><em><strong>Ease of use<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>What differentiates TikTok from its competitors and previous attempts on short video platforms like \u2018Vine\u2019 is it\u2019s extremely simple yet creative platform that empowers users to capture videos directly from their smartphones and share their passion, creative expressions or daily moments through their videos. For viewers, the app allows to browse through videos with a smooth \u2018swipe\u2019 keeping them engaged and providing the instant gratification in most cases.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><em><strong>TikTok &#8216;Challenges&#8217;<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>One of the interesting aspect of the app is the \u2018Challenges\u2019 \u2013 a short video skit performed by a user and then it goes viral by others creating various responses to a popular meme. This has a tremendous network effect that not only attracts new users but also keeps the current users engaged by making TikTok a part of their daily entertainment.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><em><strong>Social Networking<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>TikTok allows its users to have global followers \u2013 a quick short cut to stardom. The app is mostly used by teenagers who dream to be famous in a short span of time and TikTok gives them a platform to showcase their skills and become an influencer. The concept can be related to 15 seconds to fame as 1 cool video has a potential to make you noticed by millions of viewers.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How does TikTok Captures Value?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><em><strong>Advertisements:<a href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/02\/bigmac-tiktok-challenge-dance-win.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-8689 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/02\/bigmac-tiktok-challenge-dance-win.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"335\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/02\/bigmac-tiktok-challenge-dance-win.png 900w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/02\/bigmac-tiktok-challenge-dance-win-300x151.png 300w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/02\/bigmac-tiktok-challenge-dance-win-768x386.png 768w, https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/02\/bigmac-tiktok-challenge-dance-win-600x301.png 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 335px) 100vw, 335px\" \/><\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Although it is not quite evident on the app yet but TikTok is quitely testing ads which seems to be an obvious next step to capture value. With data of millions of active users, TikTok can easily target ads to users based on their viewing preferences, interests and demographics. [3] McDonald&#8217;s has become one of the first brands in Malaysia to officially partner with TikTok via\u00a0#BigMacTikTok challenge. [6]<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong><em>Premium services:<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>We may expect premium services from TikTok for users soon that can include restricted special effects, higher video reach for uploaders or video watch limit for viewers (which is debatable).<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><em><strong>Access to Western World:<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>TikTok has become the first app to successfully break the barriers to become a global app with a huge American and European user base. This brings great insights to the parent company that can be used to introduce other new products in the market.[4]<\/p>\n<p><strong>The road ahead:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All eyes on TikTok as it becomes global and it is a matter of time that competitors will learn the mantra of success and may come with better apps. There are no big barriers to entry except hesitation of users to move from one app to other but TikTok can face challenges in sustaining its user base and keeping them engaged with new and creative content from other users.<\/li>\n<li>Facebook which already enjoys a much bigger user base of more than 5 times of TikTok is testing its own app \u2018Lasso\u2019 which can restrict\/hamper TikTok&#8217;s growth, specially in the western world.<\/li>\n<li>Content Quality and Parental controls: The freedom to creativity can lead to objectionable content that might not be suitable for different users. Creating the balance between empowering the users to upload whatever they want and ensuring the quality of the content in alignment with the local censorship rules can be a big challenge for TikTok<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Having said that, TikTok is definitely leading the race in capturing the share of user\u2019s time on social media in presence of the established giants like Facebook and Youtube. We can potentially see TikTok diversifying itself into more creative ways around short videos and get more and more users onboard leveraging the network effect.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>References:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[1] The Conversation. (2019).\u00a0<em>TikTok: the world\u2019s most valuable startup that you&#8217;ve never heard of<\/em>. [online] Available at: https:\/\/theconversation.com\/tiktok-the-worlds-most-valuable-startup-that-youve-never-heard-of-109302 [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019].<\/p>\n<p>[2] Tiktok.com. (2019).\u00a0<em>TikTok &#8211; About TikTok<\/em>. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/en\/about [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019].<\/p>\n<p>[3] Digiday. (2019).\u00a0<em>TikTok is quietly testing ads &#8211; Digiday<\/em>. [online] Available at: https:\/\/digiday.com\/marketing\/tiktok-quietly-testing-ads\/ [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019].<\/p>\n<p>[4] Thestar.com.my. (2019).\u00a0<em>TikTok video platform vaults ahead of major US social media apps in number of downloads in October &#8211; Tech News | The Star Online<\/em>. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.thestar.com.my\/tech\/tech-news\/2018\/11\/06\/tiktok-video-platform-vaults-ahead-of-major-us-social-media-apps-in-number-of-downloads-in-october\/ [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019].<\/p>\n<p>[5] Image Credits : Kisspng.com. (2019).\u00a0<em>TikTok musical.ly Video Bytedance Application software &#8211; musical.ly logo &#8211; Unlimited Download. Kisspng.com.<\/em>. [online] Available at: https:\/\/www.kisspng.com\/png-tiktok-musical-ly-video-bytedance-application-soft-6385366\/ [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019].<\/p>\n<p>[6]\u00a0&#8220;A Closer Look At Mcdonald&#8217;s Tiktok Campaign #Bigmactiktok&#8221;. 2019.\u00a0<i>Blog.Silvermouse.Com.My<\/i>. https:\/\/blog.silvermouse.com.my\/2018\/10\/a-closer-look-at-mcdonalds-bigmac-tiktok-campaign.html.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2018\u2019s most downloaded app in the US and Europe with roots in China, TikTok is on its way to break all barriers to become a truly global app using AI and machine learning to engage the users around the world. [4]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12030,"featured_media":8687,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[1885,110],"class_list":["post-8658","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital-platform","category-digital-video","hck-taxonomy-organization-bytedance","hck-taxonomy-industry-entertainment-and-recreation","hck-taxonomy-country-china"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-digit\/assignment\/dig-it-blog-post-assignment-i-innovative-platforms\/","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do you TikTok? 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