Unlimited access to trending clips

TikTok is a free social and communication app for uploading and sharing up to 10 minutes videos available on mobile devices. The app, formerly known as Musical.ly, has over 500 million downloads and is used as a popular social media app for sharing trendy videos and keeping tabs on your friends. Especially popular with the younger generation, downloading and using this video-sharing is easy. It features millions of videos and that number is growing.

Watch, create, and share

TikTok is a quick way to access and create media to be shared with others. Users can easily sink hours watching endless videos about whatever subject they choose. These videos can be funny, serious, or maybe you just want to lipsync to popular music. This app’s huge following and intuitive accessibility ensure that your video gets to the viewers quickly and easily.

This simple platform opens a world of interactivity, and as with any social media giant like Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook, you get what you give. If you and your friends use this platform to make videos frequently, you’ll see a ton of mileage from this app. Moreover, this app’s controls are logical and familiar — most users find 15 seconds long enough for a quick laugh.

True to its Musical.ly roots, this app has the rights to a slew of pop music. Users can embed pop songs into their recordings and pull from a catalog spanning thousands of tracks. This application stays on top of the trending game by keeping this list of accessible music frequently updated, granting access to a music library with a wide variety of selections.

Sign up to get started

Since TikTok is a mobile app, signup requires either a phone number, email address, or an account on Facebook or Instagram. Right off the bat, you’re diving headfirst into the app, and you’ll immediately have access to millions of short videos. You can filter by the creator, categories such as music, comedy, animals, and sports being among the most popular, or search by relevant tags.

Half the fun of the app is connecting with friends by exchanging profile links or using your phone or social media contacts and followers to locate other friends using the app quickly—for those who are more introverted, creating and sharing your videos is never required. On the contrary, many users simply use the app as a way to find and follow content creators rather than making videos of their own.

Most of TikTok’s rampant success is owed to watching and recording lipsyncing videos of popular music or sound bytes. Recognizable song lyrics translate exceptionally well within the limited time constraint, and editing in your choice of effects, filters, and music makes every video feel unique and fresh. Users can like, comment, follow, or even sing duets on the receiving end, making for a fast-paced, interactive experience.

TikTok is easy to use

No matter your level of technical expertise, the mobile controls for TikTok are intuitive and apparent, particularly if you’re familiar with mobile apps—TikTok was modeled off them, to begin with. Videos can be made with a simple button press and a wide range of filters and effects. Cut, crop, or merge with ease. Other features include:

• Endless videos tailored to your specific tastes.
• Dozens of unique emoji stickers.
• Replay controls that let you pause, resume, and rewatch.
• Free access to your favorite music and curated playlists.
• Playlists catered to comedy, sports, memes, pet videos, ASMR, gaming, culinary content, etc.

TikTok for kids

The biggest concern about TikTok is whether it’s safe for families. Since the main demographic is kids and teenagers, having access to unlimited video content can be dangerous. In 2019, TikTok fought legal battles with federal regulators who charged the app with violating children’s privacy law. Anyone can post anything—your child’s content does not have to be reviewed or edited before it hits the internet.

Since TikTok typically garners younger users, these common issues are amplified. This app is not a breeding ground for indecency, as some parents assert. Still, it is just as susceptible to cyberbullying, insensitive commenting, hate threats, or sexually suggestive content as other social apps like Facebook, Snapchat, or WhatsApp. The main difference is the demographic, not the content, which still worsens the problem.

Set your TikTok account to private

If you’re concerned about the content at your child’s disposal, you can change privacy settings as a way to set your account to private. These tools are located on a user’s profile page and by selecting the ellipsis icon. Toggle your profile to a private account and take it further by selecting who can send or receive profile links and direct messages.

Deleting a TikTok video

Another safety feature of TikTok is the option to remove videos. To do this, access your profile and select the video you wish to delete. Tap the ellipsis icon in the bottom-right and click the trash can to delete it. This will completely erase the video from your profile. The caveat is that TikTok does allow users to download videos, so others may still have it.

The key features

TikTok has a feature-rich tool that you can explore, which is why it is popular among social media users.

Here are some key features of TikTok:

• Voiceover – An exciting feature of this application is the ability to record voiceovers for your videos.
• Music integration – Users can add background music to their videos, with a vast library of popular songs and sound bites to choose from.
• Editing tools – This app provides a range of editing tools to customize videos, including filters, effects, text overlays, and stickers.
• Duets and collaborations – Users can create duets and collaborations with other users by combining videos and adding a split-screen.
• Hashtags and challenges – This platform popularized the use of hashtags and challenges, where users can participate in trending topics or create their challenges.
• Discover feed – The Discover Feed in this app showcases trending videos and popular creators, providing a platform for users to find and follow content creators.
• Algorithmic feed – TikTok’s algorithmic feed provides users with personalized video recommendations based on their viewing habits and interests.
• Live video streaming – This feature allows you to broadcast live videos where your followers and non-followers can interact with you in real time.

Parental guidance is advice

TikTok is a popular social and communication app offering users unlimited access to trendy and engaging video content. The app is easy to use and offers intuitive controls and features that allow users to watch, create, and share videos with others. However, since TikTok’s primary demographic is young people, safety concerns regarding inappropriate content and privacy issues have been raised. Users can set their accounts to private, delete videos, and use the app’s many features, such as voiceovers, music integration, editing tools, and duets and collaborations.