A day late, so it’s Sunday, not Saturday question this week. Even if you live outside of the main arena of the unfolding TikTok drama, most likely you at least read something about it. So, I thought it would be interesting to do a question related to a hot-button issue.
Saturday Question #249:
Do You TikTok?
Do you have an account there? Do you use it? If you do, is any of the content you watch there perfume-related? What other content do you find interesting there? Would it affect you if it were to be banned in your country?
My Answer
I thought I registered an account at some point, but I can’t remember under which username. I recollect I thought of having my account registered with the name I use elsewhere – just in case, but now it is not recognized on the web, and it looks like either I’ve never installed it on my phone or deleted it after the initial sign-up. So, this probably answers most of today’s questions.
Even though I don’t use TikTok, I’ve always felt an instinctive animosity towards it: for me, it was the worst combination of Twitter (which I disliked for the short and short-lived content) and YouTube (not all the content, but I refer to those videos made specifically to click-bate users into watching them or to provoke the response). So, when shortly it was going down, I felt a twinge of schadenfreude. On the other hand, I have a guilty pleasure: on YouTube, I watch (not subscribe but watch when it finds me) a channel that covers different TikTok dramas. So, I would have missed that type of entertainment had the ban gone through. So, plus (schadenfreude) and minus (entertainment) cancel each other out.
Now, it looks like the crisis has been averted, and everything will be how it was. It doesn’t change anything for me and doesn’t affect me in the least. So, it means that I would be fine both ways – with or without TikTok available in the US.
How about you?
Undina's Looking Glass 
Hey Undina,
No, I never did TikTok. I find it hard enough to keep focus on stuff that needs doing without another time waste.
Portia xx
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Have you ever thought of doing any videos – YouTube, IG, well, TikTok? I’m asking because out of everyone else I know, you are the closest to the show/entertainment industry, and you must be fabulous on camera.
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Hey undina,
Yeah, I did a few videos for APJ and the Posse that went on YouTube but I’m not really wanting to go that route. The written word is better for me,
Portia xx
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I agree with Portia. As a blogger, it took me forever to get onboard Instagram, and Tik Tok was a bridge too far. Personally, I am alarmed at the outsized influence TT has on the younger segments of our world, but I imagine there is some good stuff too. I know a lot of writers who couldn’t get published found fame there. But like you, I won’t really care one way or the other what happens. It doesn’t affect me directly.
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For me IG was also not an obvious choice, but then I realized that I could post photos of Rusty, not perfume-related, and it changed my attitude towards IG.
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The only TikTok here is the sound of my grandfather clock that needs weekly winding. Like Portia, I felt that it would be a granitic waste of time, which I could use in other parts of my world. I also don’t subscribe to a single YouTube creator. I will tune in once in a while just to enjoy the rants about perfumes.
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Most of my YouTube subscriptions are beauty-related or financial channels. I don’t think I subscribe to a single perfume channel.
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I guess I’m really old school because I the only reason I have a TikTok account was to keep on eye on my teen. Have never posted and don’t watch unless someone sends me something specific they think I’ll like. I also don’t typically watch any perfume video reviews, I much prefer to read them (I know, so old school!). All reviews can be biased and influenced by the brand giving product away but somehow I feel it is more likely to happen via TikTok or YouTube….
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Thankfully I’ve never fallen into its clutches. I have enough other things to waste my time on☺️
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We certainly aren’t the target audience for TikTok! I never went on; have obviously seen plenty of content that has been shared on other platforms but I have enough time sucks, thank you! I also was aware from the start that the app and data is owned by China and that made me uncomfortable. (Not that the US platforms aren’t tracking our every move, too…) I didn’t see any positives to outweigh the negatives.
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Nope, never. Seeing people scroll mindlessly on the train annoys me, more so if the audio’s on. I’m sure some cool trends have come out of it, such as new foods or beverages, but there are some nasty ones as well.
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Good question!
I have seen it as TikTok, TikTik or TokTok 🤣. I have enough distractions as it is so one more is one too many!
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I did check TikTok out during lockdown but short form stuff holds no interest for me. I’ve deleted Twitter as well.
TikTok didn’t feel relevant to me & Twitter made my blood boil!
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I don’t have an account, and use TikTok pretty exclusively for Milo the Chonk cat videos. Highly recommended btw!
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