Blog: TikTok - Page 7

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TikTok tests ‘clear mode’ as consumers struggle with what is a distraction and what is not

Cover image for TikTok tests ‘clear mode’ as consumers struggle with what is a distraction and what is not
Hanna Kahlert
The announcement of TikTok testing a distraction-free ‘clear mode’ might come across as ironic, given the ‘distraction’-prone default use case of most social media platforms. Is TikTok not already a distraction from other things? What is left if a ‘distraction free’ mode is activated? Yet it is exactly this paradox of perception that makes the development interesting.
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The record label addiction to virality is about the attention recession, too

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Tatiana Cirisano
In a painfully-of-the-moment twist of irony, Halsey went viral on TikTok this week for speaking out about the pressure to do just that. “Basically I have a song that I love that I wanna release ASAP, but … my record company is saying that I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok,” they said .
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Instagram is trying TikTok features on for size – but does the shoe fit?

Cover image for Instagram is trying TikTok features on for size – but does the shoe fit?
Ashleigh Millar
Instagram has started testing its new TikTok-esque make-over. The platform, which originally started as a photo-first app, has revealed its plans to push forward in a more video-first direction. This is following Meta’s revelation during its Q1 2022 earnings call earlier this month that its TikTok-inspired short-form video vertical, Reels, accounts for 20% of users’ overall time spent on Instagram.
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Is TikTok becoming a record label? The question misses the point

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Tatiana Cirisano
Every time TikTok does anything that seems to hedge on record label territory, someone inevitably asks the question: is TikTok turning into a record label? Cue the eye-rolls from the music industry. No one seems to want to admit how powerful a music company competitor TikTok really is — to the point where becoming a record label is not the point at all.
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Is the rising popularity of the BeReal app proof that raw authenticity is the social media trend of 2022?

Cover image for Is the rising popularity of the BeReal app proof that raw authenticity is the social media trend of 2022?
Ashleigh Millar
‘Genuineness’ is trending on TikTok at the moment. Influencer celebrities have risen to fame because of their transparency and relatability, from the likes of Brittany Broski sharing candid, unfiltered content , to Eden Harvey sharing intimate and private moments with her followers to keep them included in every step of her life , both of whom boast millions of followers (6.
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Why the remix challenge is primed for a revival

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Tatiana Cirisano
Remix challenges have been part of the record label toolbox for more than a decade. Artists let contestants purchase or earn song stems; then the artist and fans vote on the best remixes. The idea is simple: contestants get a shot at recognition from their favourite artists (as well as their 15 seconds of fame), plus prizes; and artists get to increase their profiles and deepen fan engagement.
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Social media has become the default news platform for digital natives (for better and / or worse)

Cover image for Social media has become the default news platform for digital natives (for better and / or worse)
Hanna Kahlert
The tragic turn of events last week in Ukraine have shaken Europe and the world. People are frightened, politicians are tense, markets are volatile , and no one knows what will come next. However, as news has emerged of the situation, an interesting phenomenon has become clear: while robust reporting may be difficult to come by, and official communication lines are intermittently down , digital natives are keeping tabs on the situation through social media.
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Out with viral, in with niche: TikTok’s impact on music changes form

Cover image for Out with viral, in with niche: TikTok’s impact on music changes form
Tatiana Cirisano
In 2020, TikTok users proved their power for turning songs into hits. Tracks associated with dance challenges, memes and other TikTok trends regularly cracked the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart, and major labels entered bidding wars to sign the previously unknown artists behind TikTok smashes, such as Powfu (of “Death Bed”) and Jawsh685 (of “Laxed [Siren Beat]”).
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The social reckoning is nigh: The Haugen testimony and Facebook blackout hint at imminent regulatory changes

Cover image for The social reckoning is nigh: The Haugen testimony and Facebook blackout hint at imminent regulatory changes
Hanna Kahlert
The race between social media (and broader tech) innovation and governmental regulation has been a bit of a hare and the tortoise situation for the past decade-plus. However, the digital-first transition as a result of; COVID-19 lockdowns; several election and voting processes being impacted by social media misinformation; and viral vaccine scepticism currently threatening our return to ‘ normal ’ is finally pushing regulation to catch-up.
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